Maternal Risk Factors for Birth Asphyxia in Low-Resource Communities

  • Rubeena Parveen Dhiloo

Abstract

Objective: To scientifically determine the maternal risk factors for birth asphyxia in low resource communities.

Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women Hospital, Nawabshah through a non-probability consecutive sampling technique for a period of six months from October 2021 to April 2022. All the pregnant women admitted in labor room for delivery of a baby via normal vaginal delivery (NVD) or caesarean section of either age, belongs to lower socioeconomic stratum, gestational age between 37 weeks to 42 weeks, and those who consent to participate were selected for final analysis. Baseline and clinical data were collected and analyzed using SPSS v. 26.0

Results: A total of 118 patients were selected for final analysis. The overall maternal mean age was 33.91±5.87 years. The overall observed prevalence of birth asphyxia was 28.81% (n = 34). Significant predictors of birth asphyxia in our region was increased maternal age (33.91±5.87 – years), unbooked pregnancies (52.94%, n = 18/34), use of cigarettes (8.82%, n = 3/34), previous history of birth asphyxia (47.05%, n = 16/34), presence of anemia (55.88%, n = 19/34), breech presentation (29.41%, n = 10/34), cesarean section (32.35%, n = 11/35), and increased duration of labor (359.18±60.42 – minutes), p <0.05.

Conclusion: Birth asphyxia was found to be highly prevalent in this study. Multiple preventable factors that can be controlled reduces the risk of birth asphyxia in the women of our area.

Published
2024-05-26
Section
Original Articles