Abstract
BACKGROUND: Birth asphyxia is a major contributor to neonatal mortality worldwide. In Ethiopia, birth asphyxia remains a severe condition that leads to significant mortality and morbidity. This study aims to assess the prevalence and contributing factors of birth asphyxia among the neonates delivered at the Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 279 participants using the systematic sampling method during June 1-30, 2019. Data were collected using a pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire, check list and chart review, which was used to retrieve medical information and mother's test results that could not be captured by the interview. Data were entered into EpiData (version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS software (version 24). Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify the association between the independent variables and outcome variable with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULT: The overall prevalence of birth asphyxia among newborns was found to be 15.1%. Factors that were significantly associated with birth asphyxia included mothers aged ≥35 (AOR = 6.4; 95% CI = 2.0-20.5), primigravida (AOR = 5.1; 95% CI =2.0-13.3), prolonged second stage of labor (AOR = 4.6; 95%CI =1.6-13.3), preterm birth (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI =1.5-14.1), meconium stained amniotic fluid (AOR = 7.5; 95% CI =2.5-21.4) and tight nuchal (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI =1.2-9.3). CONCLUSION: Birth asphyxia is still prevalent in the study setting. The obtained findings indicated that the mothers aged ≥35, being primigravida, preterm birth, meconium stained amniotic fluid and tight nuchal were the factors associated with birth asphyxia. The results of this study show the need for better maternal care, creating awareness about contributing factors of birth asphyxia to the maternity health professionals, careful monitoring of labor, and identifying and taking proper measures that could help in reducing the occurrence of birth asphyxia.