BIRTH INJURY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN JIMMA UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Birth injury including perinatal asphyxia is the most preventable cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Little can be done for a baby affected by birth injury especially in severe perinatal asphyxia. Hence, full attention to reduce them to an absolute minimum should nowadays be the golden standard.

Objectives: To assess magnitude of birth injury and its associated factors in Jimma University  Specialized Hospital.

Design: Cross sectional study was conducted at JUSH labour wards from April to May 2014.Data were collected using structured data collection format at postnatal ward. The data analyzed using SPSS version 20 and frequency tables were constructed and association of birth injury with different variables was checked with multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: Among the study population 61% of the newborns were males. Birth injury was diagnosed in 42(15.4%) of the newborns that can be sub-grouped to perinatal asphyxia 22(8.1%) and mechanical birth trauma 22(8.1%). Two newborns sustained both asphyxial and mechanical birth injury. Scalp injury was diagnosed in 63.6% of the newborns with birth trauma. Birth injury was associated with place of residence, parity, fetal presentation, fetal position, fetal distress, route of delivery (vaginal) and need of resuscitation.

Conclusion: The magnitude of birth injury is nearly comparable to the results found in most other developing countries but significantly higher than those in developed countries. Place of residence, parity, fetal presentation, fetal position, fetal distress; route of delivery and need of resuscitation were found to be associated with birth injury