Survival Status and Predictors of Mortality among Neonates with Birth Asphyxia Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units at public hospitals in the Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia in 2024, a Post-war Crisis: A Prospective Follow-Up Study
Embaba Tekelaye Welesemayat, Tekleweyni Mariye, Letemicheal Mezgebo, Fre Gebremeskel, Tsega Gebremichael Gebremeskel, Tsahaynesh Gidey, Ebud Ayele DagnazgiObjective
To determine survival time and predictors of mortality among neonates with birth asphyxia admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units at public hospitals in Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia, in 2024.
Methods
A prospective follow-up study was conducted among 220 neonates with birth asphyxia from February 20 to June 30, 2024. Participants were selected using systematic sampling. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed. Adjusted hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to identify predictors.
Results
Over 2,299 neonate-days, 25.9% (95% CI, 20.5%–32.1%) of neonates died, incidence rate of 24.7 per 1,000 neonate-days and a restricted mean survival time of 20 days. Low birth weight (AHR = 2.86), blue staining (AHR = 2.71), mild-to-moderate asphyxia (AHR = 2.40), severe asphyxia (AHR = 3.17) were predictors of death.
Conclusion
Early identification and management of neonates with asphyxia may substantially improve overall survival.