Determinants of neonatal hypothermia among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit northwest, Ethiopia, case-control study

Abstract

Background

Neonatal mortality is a global public health problem disproportionally high in developing country including Ethiopia. Hypothermia plays a significant role in neonatal mortality. This study was conducted to identify determinants of neonatal hypothermia among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of public hospitals.

Methods and materials

Institutional based unmatched case-control study was conducted in Bahir Dar town public hospitals among neonates admitted in the NICUs in 2019. A total of 387 participants were included in the study. Pretested, structured questionnaire, and data extraction checklist were used to collect results. Data analysis was done by using Stata version 14 .

Results

Low birth weight (adjusted odd ratio (AOR)=3.01, 95%CI: 1.50–5.58), nighttime delivery (AOR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.13–3.13), lack skin to skin contact (AOR = 2.43, 95%CI: 1.42–4.16), delayed initiation of breast feeding (AOR = 2.24, 95%CI: 1.30–3.88), not wearing cape (AOR = 1.87, 95%CI: 1.07–3.26), and low Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (APGAR) score (AOR = 2.17, 95%CI: 1.15–4.10) were determinant variables of the neonatal hypothermia.

Conclusions

Skin to skin contact, initiation of breast feeding, birth weight, time, low APGAR score, and not wearing cape were identified as independent determinates of neonatal hypothermia.

Keywords:

• Determinants
• hypothermia
• neonate
• Bahir Dar
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

Our gratitude goes to hospital administrators, data collectors, and respondents for their contribution to the study.

Ethical approval and consent to participants: Ethical clearance was obtained from Bahir Dar University, college of medicine and health science, institutional review board. Before the interview, data collectors had informed the respondents and request consent. All respondents’ response was kept confidential and the right to refuse to answer for a question was respected.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).