Birth asphyxia and its contributing factors among the neonates delivered at Negest Eleni Mohammed memorial teaching hospital, Southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Abstract Background : Birth asphyxia is a major contributor to neonatal mortality worldwide. In Ethiopia, birth asphyxia remains a severe condition that leads to significant mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and contributing factors of birth asphyxia among the neonates delivered at the Negest Eleni Mohammed Memorial Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study design was employed from June 1- 30, 2019. Two hundred seventy nine study participants were selected using the systematic sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire, check list and chart review . Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 24. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis were made and P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Result: The overall prevalence of birth asphyxia among newborns was 15.1%. Factors that were significantly associated with birth asphyxia included mothers aged ≥ 35 [AOR=6.4, 95% CI (2.0, 20.5)], primigravida [AOR=5.1, 95% CI (2.0, 13.3)], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR=4.6, 95%CI (1.6, 13.3)], preterm birth [AOR=4.7, 95% CI (1.5, 14.1)], meconium stained amniotic fluid [AOR=7.5, 95% CI (2.5, 21.4)]and tight nuchal [AOR=3.1, 95% CI (1.2, 9.3)]. Conclusion: Birth asphyxia is still prevalent in the study setting. The results of this study show the need for better maternal care, creating awareness about contributing factors of birth asphyxia to the maternity health professionals, careful monitoring of labor, and identifying and taking proper measures that could help in reducing the occurrence of birth asphyxia.