Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for neonatal jaundice among neonates admitted in three large hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. DESIGN: Hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of three tertiary hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. PARTICIPANTS: 423 neonates admitted in NICUs and their mothers. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of neonatal jaundice was 30.26%. Results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the risk of neonatal jaundice was highest for neonates of mothers aged more than 35 years (adjusted OR (AOR): 6.03, 95% CI: 2.46 to 15.13), mothers who had prolonged labour (AOR: 3.29, 95% CI: 1.79 to 6.08) and those delivered vaginally (AOR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.56 to 4.97) compared with caesarean section. The risk of neonatal jaundice was lower for male neonates (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.76) and higher for neonates who had ABO incompatibility (AOR: 22.26, 95% CI: 3.54 to 249.62), rhesus (Rh) incompatibility (AOR: 14.10, 95% CI: 1.11 to 2021.73) and neonatal sepsis (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.15 to 3.39). CONCLUSIONS: Higher maternal age, prolonged labour, blood group ABO incompatibility, Rh incompatibility and neonatal sepsis are significant risk factors for neonatal jaundice. Efforts for prevention and timely management of ABO and Rh incompatibility, prolonged labour and neonatal sepsis are required to reduce cases of neonatal jaundice. Special attention should be given to newborns of older mothers and those born through vaginal delivery as they are at higher risk of developing neonatal jaundice. Further research is needed to conclusively identify the role of neonatal sex as a risk factor for neonatal jaundice.