Risk Factors of Neonatal Deaths Among Asphyxiated Neonates in Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

Abstract

In the globe about 4 million babies die during neonatal period every year and 99% of these deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries. Out of these, almost one-fourth of them lose their lives due to birth asphyxia. The main objective of this study was to assess risk factors of neonatal death among asphyxiated neonates in Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle City. Institution-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from December 1st 2011 to November 30th, 2013. All charts of neonates diagnosed with birth asphyxia in Ayder Referral Hospital during the study period were included in the study. Data were collected retrospectively from maternal and neonatal records. A ratio of one case to four controls was assured and study subjects were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were entered and cleaned using EPI-info version 3.5.1, and was analyzed using SPSS window version 20 software. Both bivariate and multivariate analysis with 95% CI was applied to avoid any confounding variables. Meconeum stained neonates were 7.3 times at higher risk of death than with those who had not been stained (AOR=7.33, 95% CI: 2.17–24.79). Prolonged labor was 5.5 times higher risk of death than that had not prolonged labor (AOR=5.49, 95% CI: 1.69–17.79). A neonate with cord prolapse was more likely to die than those with no cord prolapse (AOR=11.46, 95% CI: 2.60–50.42). Neonates who had severe asphyxia had a higher chance of death compared to mild asphyxia neonates (AOR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.35–8.32). This study has shown that meconium staining, Apgar score, premature rupture of membrane, gestational age, prolonged labor and cord prolapse were the major risk factors for neonatal deaths. Thus, access to antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care should be increased in order to decrease neonatal deaths.

Keywords: Neonatal death, birth asphyxia, case-control, risk factors

Cite this Article

Tsige Araya, Haftom Ghiwot, Gebreamlak Gidey  et al. Risk factors of neonatal deaths among asphyxiated neonates in Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: A case control study. Research and Reviews: Journal of Medicine. 2015; 5(3): 16–26p.