The preterm birth preventive behaviors among pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in Phetchaburi Province

Abstract

Preterm births occur before the 37^th week of pregnancy. Prematurity is a leading cause of death and neurodevelopmental problems in children under 5 years of age. This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed to study preterm birth preventive behaviors among pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in Phetchaburi Province. The samples consisted of 134 pregnant women at risk of preterm birth with a gestational age of 14-36 weeks who received services at the secondary care facilities in Phetchaburi Province. The samples were chosen through multi-stage sampling, encompassing 16-17 individuals per hospital from eight districts. Data collection occurred from November to December 2023, utilizing a questionnaire on Preterm Birth Preventive Behaviors, which demonstrated a content validity index of .87 and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .90. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the overall mean score of preterm birth preventive behaviors of the sample was at a good level ( =3.98, SD=.43). The highest mean score was shown in the domain of responsibility for health ( =4.25, SD=.55), whereas stress management had the lowest mean score ( =3.66, SD=.84). The study recommended the promotion of preterm birth preventive behaviors, with particular attention to stress management, which received the lowest score.