Author(s)

Edith Tewesa¹, Ellen Chirwa², Maureen Daisy Majamanda², Alfred Maluwa², Angela Chimwaza²

¹Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
²University of Malawi—Kamuzu College of Nursing, Malawi.

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.

Neonates, Birth Asphyxia, Risk Factors

Tewesa, E. , Chirwa, E. , Majamanda, M. , Maluwa, A. and Chimwaza, A. (2017) Associative Factors for Birth Asphyxia at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital—Malawi. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 5, 22-31. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2017.55003.