Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has recorded a sharp rise in premature births, raising concern among health workers despite ongoing efforts to promote safer pregnancies.
The hospital, which serves the Acholi sub-region and parts of northern Uganda, registered 7,632 normal deliveries last year, alongside 4,062 caesarean sections, according to maternity ward in-charge Rose Akumu Olok. Seven maternal deaths were also recorded, including referrals from Kiryandongo and Kitgum districts.
More concerning, however, is the increase in preterm births. In December alone, 89 premature babies were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), with four deaths reported. Admissions remained high in January, with 87 babies and nine deaths, including five preterm infants. In February, admissions rose further to 106, with six preterm deaths recorded.
Christine Lapat, a senior nursing officer and head of the preterm unit, attributed the trend to a combination of medical and social factors. These include pregnancy-induced hypertension, diabetes and malaria, as well as poverty, poor nutrition, and limited access to care.
“A mother may develop high blood pressure during pregnancy even if she did not have it before. Malaria infection and diabetes are also major contributors,” she said.
Lapat added that overwork, stress, and domestic violence are also contributing factors, alongside a growing number of teenage pregnancies. Many young girls conceal their pregnancies and miss antenatal care, increasing the risk of complications.
“Some girls become pregnant while still in school and hide it. They do not attend antenatal care, and parents often only realise when the girl is already in labour,” she said.
Dr. Peter Mukobi, the hospital’s senior executive consultant, stressed the importance of routine antenatal visits in reducing both maternal and newborn deaths.
Hospital administrators say systemic challenges continue to affect service delivery. Principal Hospital Administrator Walter Uryek-Wun cited severe staffing shortages and limited funding, noting that the hospital currently faces a gap of 835 staff out of an approved structure of 1,273.
He said the government has proposed allocating 4 billion shillings in the 2026/27 draft budget to support recruitment. The hospital is also undergoing rehabilitation of its surgical ward, tuberculosis unit and emergency department to improve care.
