TITLE:
Associative Factors for Birth Asphyxia at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital—Malawi
AUTHORS:
Edith Tewesa, Ellen Chirwa, Maureen Daisy Majamanda, Alfred Maluwa, Angela Chimwaza
KEYWORDS:
Neonates, Birth Asphyxia, Risk Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
26,
2017
ABSTRACT: Background: Birth
asphyxia is one of the major causes of neonatal deaths worldwide. Queen
Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) neonatal ward records indicate that 36.5% of
neonates admitted in the ward from April to September 2012 had birth asphyxia.
This study was conducted to explore associative factors for birth asphyxia at
QECH. Methodology: The study design was descriptive cross sectional that
employed quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Data sources
were case notes of neonates and their mothers.
Sample size was 87 neonates with birth asphyxia and 87 neonates admitted
with conditions other than birth asphyxia as controls. Data were collected from
November to December 2013. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS)
version16.0 was used to analyze data. Results: Findings revealed that
there were no maternal associative factors for birth asphyxia, however, foetal
distress, prolonged first and second stage of labour were significant associative
factors for birth asphyxia. Conclusion: Associative factors for birth
asphyxia at QECH are Foetal distress, prolonged first and second stage of
labour. These factors can be prevented if quality care is provided to women in
labour through close monitoring of foetal heart, appropriate use of the
partograph, prompt decision making and early interventions.