Determinants of birth asphyxia among newborns in south Gondar Zone public hospitals, North West Ethiopia, 2021: A case control study.

INTRODUCTION

Birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality, which accounts for around 24 % of overall neonatal mortality. Neonatal death usually results from preventable factors. Thus, this study has aimed to identify the determinant factors of birth asphyxia among newborns in South Gondar Zone public hospitals.

METHODS

Institution based unmatched case control study and systematic random sampling technique was conducted in South Gondar zone public hospitals from March October 2021 to May 20/2021. A pretested interviewer administered questionnaire and a data retrieving checklist was used for data collection. Cases were selected if one of the following was present at birth: (gasping, no breathing, or breathing rate of below 30 per minute). Epidata version 4.6 software was used for data entry and bivariate logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression techniques were used for data analysis using SPSS version 23.

RESULT

In this study, Instrumental delivery (AOR = 3.19, 95%CI: 1.23-8.36), labor abnormality (AOR = 3.24, 95%CI: 1.31-8.03), cord prolapse (AOR = 7.06, 95%CI:2.25-22.50),APH (AOR = 4.68,95%CI:2.00-10.95) and preterm birth (AOR = 3.84,95%CI:1.32-11.20) were predictors of birth asphyxia.

CONCLUSION

Labor abnormality, ante-partum hemorrhage, cord prolapse, instrumental delivery and preterm birth were independent predictors of birth asphyxia.