Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan

Background: The incidence of premature birth is high in Jordan, with no significant lowering of figures seen during the past decades. The knowledge of the associated high morbidity and mortality rate among preterm infants makes prematurity a high priority for the healthcare system in Jordan. This st...

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Main Authors: Reem Ali, Karimeh Alnuaimi, Buthyna Alnasarat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398425001356
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author Reem Ali
Karimeh Alnuaimi
Buthyna Alnasarat
author_facet Reem Ali
Karimeh Alnuaimi
Buthyna Alnasarat
author_sort Reem Ali
collection DOAJ
description Background: The incidence of premature birth is high in Jordan, with no significant lowering of figures seen during the past decades. The knowledge of the associated high morbidity and mortality rate among preterm infants makes prematurity a high priority for the healthcare system in Jordan. This study aims to assess public awareness about prematurity, preterm infants’ health challenges and developmental disorders. Methods: A national-based survey was employed to collected data on people's level of awareness. Online questionnaires were distributed across the country using proportional clusters protocol which was based on the geographical distribution of the population in Jordan. Results: 3048 Jordanians, aged from 18 to 77 years, completed the questionnaires; the majority of them were females and held married status. Results showed that 69.9 % of respondents gave a correct definition of prematurity. The average percentages of correct answers regarding the seriousness of prematurity, risks, and health and developmental problems were 71.5 %, 74.4 %, and 62.5 %, respectively. People generally failed to accurately identify premature infants’ long-term health and developmental problems. ANOVA results showed that the levels of awareness are significantly higher among people who have high family income (p < 0.001), are well-educated (p < 0.001), and employed in medical fields (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Educational initiatives are needed to enhance public awareness, particularly among the poor and less educated sectors of society. Lectures could be given by healthcare professionals at hospitals, and posted via social media, to educate people about prematurity and premature infants' health-related issues, with attention paid to infants’ long-term health and developmental problems.
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spelling doaj-art-6c6e1ec84b394d41935d7a2880d09d972025-08-20T01:55:38ZengElsevierClinical Epidemiology and Global Health2213-39842025-05-013310204610.1016/j.cegh.2025.102046Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in JordanReem Ali0Karimeh Alnuaimi1Buthyna Alnasarat2Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing at Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box (3030), 22110, Irbid, Jordan; Corresponding author.Midwifery Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanDepartment of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanBackground: The incidence of premature birth is high in Jordan, with no significant lowering of figures seen during the past decades. The knowledge of the associated high morbidity and mortality rate among preterm infants makes prematurity a high priority for the healthcare system in Jordan. This study aims to assess public awareness about prematurity, preterm infants’ health challenges and developmental disorders. Methods: A national-based survey was employed to collected data on people's level of awareness. Online questionnaires were distributed across the country using proportional clusters protocol which was based on the geographical distribution of the population in Jordan. Results: 3048 Jordanians, aged from 18 to 77 years, completed the questionnaires; the majority of them were females and held married status. Results showed that 69.9 % of respondents gave a correct definition of prematurity. The average percentages of correct answers regarding the seriousness of prematurity, risks, and health and developmental problems were 71.5 %, 74.4 %, and 62.5 %, respectively. People generally failed to accurately identify premature infants’ long-term health and developmental problems. ANOVA results showed that the levels of awareness are significantly higher among people who have high family income (p < 0.001), are well-educated (p < 0.001), and employed in medical fields (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Educational initiatives are needed to enhance public awareness, particularly among the poor and less educated sectors of society. Lectures could be given by healthcare professionals at hospitals, and posted via social media, to educate people about prematurity and premature infants' health-related issues, with attention paid to infants’ long-term health and developmental problems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398425001356Developmental disorderKnowledgePreterm infants
spellingShingle Reem Ali
Karimeh Alnuaimi
Buthyna Alnasarat
Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan
Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health
Developmental disorder
Knowledge
Preterm infants
title Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan
title_full Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan
title_fullStr Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan
title_full_unstemmed Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan
title_short Public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues: A national-based survey in Jordan
title_sort public awareness about infant prematurity and its related health issues a national based survey in jordan
topic Developmental disorder
Knowledge
Preterm infants
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398425001356
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AT karimehalnuaimi publicawarenessaboutinfantprematurityanditsrelatedhealthissuesanationalbasedsurveyinjordan
AT buthynaalnasarat publicawarenessaboutinfantprematurityanditsrelatedhealthissuesanationalbasedsurveyinjordan