DETERMINANTS OF BIRTH ASPHYXIA AMONG NEWBORNS IN BENISHANGULGUMUZ REGION HOSPITALS, NORTHWEST, ETHIOPIA, 2019

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Birth asphyxia is a condition of impaired gas exchange in newborns, when the APGAR (activity, pulse, grimace, appearance and respiration) score is <7 at the first 5 minutes. In Ethiopia it’s the leading cause of neonatal mortality which accounts around one third of neonatal death. It’s highly preventable disease. Ethiopian national ministry of health recommends to give emphasis on identifying its determinant factors and also there is no similar study conducted at same study area. So, this study will helps to intervene clearly on identified factors and to modify the problem. Objective: This study was aimed to identify the determinant factors of birth asphyxia among newborns at Benishangul Gumuz region hospitals, 2019. Methods Hospital-based unmatched case-control study was done from March 04 to July 16/ 2019, in Benishangul Gumuz Region Hospitals. Newborns with APGAR (activity, pulse, grimace, appearance and respiration) score of less than 7 at 5 minute were taken as cases and those with greater or equal to 7 were taken as controls. All asphyxiated newborns were enrolled as cases where as, in every three step non-asphyxiated newborns were taken as controls. Data were collected by a pretested and structured tool. Then, entered to Epi Info 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 then analyzed. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used, variables with P value < 0.2 were sorted and multivariable logistic regressions were done. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and P<0.05was used to identify determinants of asphyxia. Results In this study, identified determinants of birth asphyxia were, anemia during pregnancy [AOR=2.95, 95% CI: (1.02, 8.54)], lack of ANC visit at all [AOR =4.26, 95% CI: (1.23,14.7)], cord prolapse [AOR=4.52, 95% CI: (1.34,15.18)], cesarean section delivery [AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: (1.3, 21)] and low birth weight [AOR= 4.1, 95% CI: (1.11, 15.36)]. Conclusion and Recommendation Based on this study, lack of ANC visits at all, anemia during pregnancy, cord prolapse, cesarean section delivery and low birth weight, were identified determinants of birth asphyxia among newborns delivered in Benishangul Gumuz region hospitals. So, in order to modify the problem, it’s better to give emphasis by all concerned and recommended bodies through intervention on identified determinants. Key Words: Benishangul-Gumuz, Birth asphyxia, Determinants, Ethiopia, Newborns