Perceived Self-Competence and Barriers to Preterm Care Among Nurses in Selected Hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria Olajumoke Regina Lawani 1 , Esther Oluwatoyin Famutimi 1,2 , Victoria Bolanle Brown, 3 Ezinne Esther Nwachukwu 4 , Chizoma Millicent Ndikom 5 1 Clinical Nursing Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Email-reginaolajumoke@gmail.com; Telephone +2348062146096; 2 NuMIQ research focus area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa. famutimiesther@yahoo.com; +2348032379954. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-5065. Email-famutimiesther@yahoo.com; Telephone +2348032379954; 3 School of Midwifery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. vicbrown2010@gmail.com; +2348037272857; 4 School of Nursing, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. ezinne44sure@gmail.com; Telephone +2348103810214; 5 Department of Nursing, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. cmndikom@gmail.com; Telephone +2348035212455. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4036-156X Abstract Introduction: Preterm delivery is a major contributor to infant mortality and morbidity worldwide, and it continues to pose a serious threat to perinatal outcomes. Unfortunately, both developed and developing nations continue to have high rates of preterm births, which can range from 5% to 18%. Healthcare providers, especially nurses, must deliver competency-based care due to the present advancement in technology and the comparatively large increase in premature babies referred to neonatal units. This study evaluated perceived self-competence (PSC) and barriers to preterm care among nurses in selected hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria. Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional design among 97 nurses in neonatal units of the selected hospitals using a total sampling technique. Data were collected via a validated reliable questionnaire (α=0.75); knowledge and competence scores were categorised as poor (<70%) or good (≥70%). Data were analysed using a Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 23 and chi- square tests (p < 0.05), with results presented in tables and charts. Result: The mean age of the respondents was 37.4±10.5 years. Of these, 51 (53.7%) were midwives, and 30 (31.6%) were paediatric nurses. Their PSC was good for 84 (86.3%) and poor for 13 (13.7%) of the respondents overall. Almost three-quarters 70(73.7%) and 25(26.3%) had good and poor knowledge of preterm care, respectively. Main barriers identified as key in preterm care include: shortage of nursing staff, 76(80.0%), lack of sufficient incubators 82(86.3%), and poor/irregular power supply 86(90.5%). The tested hypotheses revealed no significant association between knowledge and perceived self-competence of Nurses in preterm care- (P=0.69). Conclusion: Despite most nurses showing good competence and knowledge in this study, significant barriers exist, which must be addressed to improve perinatal outcomes and reduce infant mortality. Hence, the study emphasised the need for targeted interventions to enhance nurses' competence and overcome barriers to quality preterm care. KEYWORDS: Preterm care, Self-competence, Knowledge, Domain, Barriers Correspondence: Famutimi, Esther Oluwatoyin Clinical Nursing Department University College Hospital, Ibadan. Email-famutimiesther@yahoo.com; Telephone +2348032379954 Introduction Globally, one of the primary causes of infant mortality and morbidity is preterm delivery and it remains a significant global challenge to perinatal outcomes 1 . Unfortunately, pre term birth rates which can range from 5% to 18% are persistently high in both developed and developing nations 2,3 . It is still difficult to accurately forecast both the immediate and future prognosis of severely premature newborns. With today's availability of affordable intervention, three-quarters of these deaths may be averted.