PERINATAL OUTCOME OF PRETERM INFANTS IN FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Introduction: Despite growing progress of perinatal medicine and perinatal care, between 9-19% of preterm infants are born each year. Improvement in survival of infants and the reduction in infant mortality rates is a key role of perinatal quality healthcare. The Aim: To evaluate the perinatal outcome of preterm infants in maternity wards of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period of one year. Material and methods: Of 22 897 live newborns, the research criteria matched 669 (2.9%) preterm in- fants with complete medical records in ten cantons of the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina. We analyzed data from maternity wards documentation and dischar- ge letters from tertiary health care centers. Results: Most deliveries were in the Tuzla and Sa- rajevo Canton with 42.5% of preterm infants. The mean gestational age of preterm infants was 31.4 weeks, with SD ± 5.34, and the mean birth weight 1295 grams, SD ± 234.2. The mean Apgar score was 4.6 ± 2.1, and in the fifth minute 6.6 ± 1.9. Of 669 examinees, there were 345 (51.56%) males and 324 (48.44%) females (51.56 vs 48.44; 2 = 1.19; P = 0.27). By analyzing the frequency of preterm infant birth rate according to weight categori- es, we found a significant difference in some levels of perinatal health institution, between the 1 st