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

## TL;DR

This study identifies key factors that increase the risk of birth asphyxia in newborns in public hospitals in Ethiopia.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into local risk factors for birth asphyxia in South Gondar Zone hospitals.

## Key findings

- Instrumental delivery and labor abnormality were significant predictors of birth asphyxia.
- Cord prolapse and ante-partum hemorrhage were strongly associated with birth asphyxia.
- Preterm birth also increased the risk of birth asphyxia among newborns.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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