Abstract:
Background: Despite birth asphyxia is one of the most important causes of morbidity and
mortality in new-borns; the determinants of birth asphyxia were no investigated according to
the local context, especially in this a particular area. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the
determinants in order to prevent the problem.
Objectives: To identify determinants of birth asphyxia at public Hospital in East Wollega
Zone, Oromia Region, West Ethiopia, 2019
Methods: A case-control study was conducted from March 10 to April 15,2019. Systematic
random sampling technique was used to select 308 (103 cases and 205 controls) newborn. Data
were collected using checklist for record review and interviewer administered questionnaire.
The data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and analysed using SPSS version 24. Variables
with P-value <0.25 were taken to multi-variable regression. Backward likelihood ratio with 0.1
probability removal was used to develop the model. Collinearity, goodness fit of final model
using Hosmer Lemeshow test considering good fit at P-value ≥ 0.05 (0.208), omnibus
likelihood test <0.05(0.000) and model classification of accuracy (77.9%) were checked. Odds
Ratio estimated with 95% CI was used to show strength of association and P-value < 0.05 was
used to declare statistical significance.
Result: A total of 308(103 cases and 205 controls) mothers of newborns were interviewed and
record reviewed with response rate of 98%. Maternal factors like: being not educated (nonformal education) (AOR=2.44; [95%CI:1.37,4.34]), having antenatal care follow up <4
(AOR=2.30; [95% CI:1.17,4.53]), Prolonged duration of labour (AOR=4.12; [95%
CI:1.78,9.50]), non-cephalic fetal presentation (AOR=4.35; [95%CI:1.77,10.67]) and being
primi-parous (AOR=2.14; [95%CI:1.20,3.83]) were the predictors birth asphyxia. The neonatal
factor such as: being preterm (AOR=5.77; [l95%:2.62,12.69]) and low birth weight
(AOR=4.43; [95%:1.94,10.13]) were also the predictors of birth asphyxia.
Conclusion: non-formal education, having less antenatal care follow up, prolonged duration
of labor, being non-cephalic presentation, prim parous, preterm and low birth weight were the
independent predictors of birth asphyxia. Interventions focusing in this area should give
priority for these identified determinants.
