Prevalence and Predictors of Birth Asphyxia Among Neonates in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Birth asphyxia is a severe clinical problem worldwide that contributes to neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of birth asphyxia and its associated risk factors among neonates attending in a selected Bangladeshi tertiary level public hospital. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka, from January to December 2019. A systematic sampling technique was selected for the study sample. Data were collected by conducting a face-to-face interview with the selected respondents. The validated APGAR score measured neonates’ health status. Among the 377 neonates, 11.93% had birth asphyxia.This study found a significant association (p = 0.039) between neonate’s health/asphyxia status and the young age (15 to 20 years) of mothers. In addition, term period (p = 0.03), low birth weight (p = 0.007), Caesarean section ((C-section) (p = 0.017)), abortion and prolonged labor duration (> 12 hours) were strongly associated with birth asphyxia in neonates. The study concludes that the young age of mothers, term period, low birth weight, C-section delivery, abortion, and longer labor duration were significantly associated with the birth asphyxia. It is recommended to raise extensive awareness among the husbands and other family members. Notably, parental training bears a pivotal role to play in maintaining and restoring maternal as well as neonatal health.