Neonatal Outcome of Pregnancies Complicated by Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes at Abia State University Teaching Hospital

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) before 37 weeks gestation is associated with significant neonatal morbidity including respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and necrotising enterocolitis, as well as maternal risks from chorioamnionitis. This study examines the neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by PPROM at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, Abia State, South East Nigeria. A four-year retrospective review of PPROM cases from 2019 to 2022 was conducted. Data were extracted on gestational age at membrane rupture, latency period, corticosteroid administration, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcomes including birth weight, APGAR scores, admissions to neonatal intensive care, and neonatal death. Sixty-seven PPROM cases were identified over the study period. Mean gestational age at PPROM was 31.2 weeks. Corticosteroids were administered in 68 percent of cases. Respiratory distress syndrome was the most common neonatal complication (54 percent), followed by neonatal sepsis (38 percent) and intraventricular haemorrhage (19 percent). Neonatal mortality was 22 percent, highest among neonates delivered before 28 weeks. Chorioamnionitis occurred in 26 percent of mothers. The study highlights the substantial neonatal burden of PPROM at ABSUTH and the critical role of corticosteroid administration. Recommendations include standardised PPROM management protocols emphasising antenatal corticosteroids, expectant management with infection surveillance, and upgraded neonatal intensive care capacity at ABSUTH. Keywords: preterm premature rupture of membranes, PPROM, neonatal outcome, ABSUTH, respiratory distress