Adverse Neonatal Outcomes and Associated Risk Factors: A Case-Control Study

Adverse neonatal outcomes have a significant effect on perinatal and neonatal survival and the risk of developmental disabilities and illnesses throughout future lives. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify adverse neonatal outcomes and associated risk factors.

Institutional based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 206 neonates. Neonates who had adverse outcomes were cases with their index mothers and those neonates who hadn't had adverse outcomes were controls with their index mothers. Sociodemographic, potential neonatal risk factors, and clinical data were taken from the mothers and medical records. Data were entered into Epi Info v7 and analyzed using SPSS v23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounding factors of adverse neonatal outcomes. Frequencies, means, standard deviations, percentages, and cross-tabulations were used to summarize the descriptive statistics of the data.

In this study, low birth weight (61.5%), preterm birth (57.7%), and low Apgar score at fifth minutes (53.9%) were the major identified adverse neonatal outcomes. Based on the multivariable logistic regression analysis, rural place of residence (AOR = 5.992 to 95% CI [1.011-35.809]), low monthly income (AOR = 4.364), middle monthly income (AOR = 4.364), and emergency cesarean section (AOR = 9.969) were the potential risk factors for adverse neonatal outcomes.

The adverse neonatal outcomes & the risk factors identified in this research have the potential to harm the health of the neonates. Thus, it needs emphasis to tackle the problems and save the life of the newborn through better and strengthened ANC follow-up, accesses to health care.