Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Hypothermia is a major factor for neonatal morbidity and mortality in
developing countries. This high burden of neonatal hypothermia in sub-Saharan Africa
is an issue of public health importance because the factors predisposing newborns to
the condition are largely preventable. Even though World health organization
incorporates thermal protection in essential newborn care, the magnitude of neonatal
hypothermia in Ethiopia according to some previous study is still high.Therefore,
improving newborn survival through appropriate thermal care is a major priority in child
health today. But there is a limited number of studies done on prevalence and
associated factors of neonatal hypothermia in Ethiopia.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of neonatal
hypothermia and associated factors among neonates admitted in the neonatal intensive
care unit at Northwest Ethiopia referral hospitals.
Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 356
admitted neonates from March 1 to April 15/2019 in Northwest Ethiopia referral
hospitals. Systematic random sampling was used to select study participants from each
hospital.And Axillary temperate of the newborn was measured by digital thermometer at
point of admission.The data was cleaned and entered in Epi-Info version 7.2.2 then
imported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic
regression was used to identify associated factors. In multivariablelogistic regression,
AOR, 95% CI and p-value<0.05 was used to identify Variables which had a significant
association with hypothermia.
Results: The prevalence of Neonatal hypothermia in the study area was found to be
61.5%.Age< 24 hours[AOR= 4.39, 95% CI: (2.12, 9.11)], delayed initiation of breast
feeding with in one hour after birth [AOR= 5.27, 95%CI: (2.53, 11.00)], no skin to skin
contact to their mother immediately after delivery [AOR= 8.81, 95%CI: (4.12, 18.84)],
Resuscitation at birth [AOR= 5.94, 95%CI: (2.77, 12.71)], low birth weight [AOR=4.48,
95%CI :( 1.98, 10.14)],and bathed within 24hours [AOR = 9.01; 95% CI (3.94, 21.0)]were
found to be independent predictors hypothermia in multivariable analysis.
Conclusion:The prevalence of Neonatal hypothermia in the study area was a bit lower
than the study conducted in Gondar and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Age < 24 hour old,
delayed initiation of breastfeeding,no skin to skin contact with their mother,resuscitation
at birth,low birth weight and bathed within 24hour were independent predictors of
neonatal hypothermia.Therefore attention is needed for thermal care of low birth weight
newborn and it is recommended to use newborn thermal protection principles of warm
chain especially on early initiation of breastfeeding, skin to skin contact, delay bathing
and warm resuscitation.
Keywords:Hypothermia, Neonatal intensive care unit, Neonate, Northwest Amhara
