Prevalence of asphyxia, readiness for neonatal resuscitation and associated factors in Naivasha district hospital

Abstract

Background Birth asphyxia accounts for up to a third of neonatal mortality worldwide. Appropriate newborn resuscitation can reduce these mortalities. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of asphyxia and maternal factors associated with it in Naivasha District hospital and attitudes and practices of health workers who perform resuscitation of the neonates with asphyxia Objectives The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of birth asphyxia and associated risk factors at Naivasha District Hospital. The secondary objectives were to describe readiness for neonatal resuscitation and also the attitudes and practices of health workers providing resuscitation to the asphyxiated neonates in Naivasha District Hospital. Methods A longitudinal cross sectional study was done in the Maternity unit of Naivasha District Hospital from August 2012 to October 2012. Two hundred and thirty seven babies were consecutively enrolled in the study. Twenty eight health workers were also recruited into the study. Prevalence of asphyxia and assessment of health worker practices and attitudes was obtained by observation of consecutive deliveries and assessing for asphyxia. Identification of the risk factors was done by interviewing the mothers and reviewing their medical records. The necessary information was collected from maternal clinical records and pre-designed questionnaire. of birth asphyxia were duration of labour OR=3.86[95% CI, p=0.041] , meconium staining of amniotic fluid and presence of oedema in pre/eclampsia. All basic resuscitation equipment was found to be available in labour ward and newborn unit. At every delivery the delivery team was always ready for resuscitation. There was good resuscitation practice with only one of 13 areas of evaluation being inappropriate where 10mls of saline was administered via the umbilical vein which was administered to 4 (25%) of the asphyxiated babies.