Prevalence and Associated factors of Jaundice among neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care unit of Hiwot FanaSpecialized University Hospital, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: - Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes caused by high serum bilirubin level. It is one of the most common clinical problems faced by neonates in the first week of life. Globally, every year about million babies develop it and the vast majority resides in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Despite the national burden of the disease, studies that assess the national magnitude and their associated factors are limited. As far as our knowledge, no previous study is present to determine the magnitude and associated factors of neonatal jaundice in the study area. Objectives: -The aim of these study is to determine the prevalence and associated factors of jaundice among Neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia from December 1/2020-December30/2020. Methodology: -.Retrospective cross sectional study was conducted and systemic random sampling was used. The required sample size for these study was 328 by taking p=44.9 from previous study in Black lion hospital .Data was collected by two nurses using a structured questionnaire then it was entered into Epi Data version 8, transferred and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Descriptive statistics including frequency and proportions, was calculated. The odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was used to check for the strength of the association between dependent and independent variables. Statistically significant was declared at P-value < 0.05. Result: .r: Result: Medical record of 328 neonates were reviewed and 145(44.2%) of them developed NH. 89(61.4%) of male and56 (38.6%) of females were developed neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Among associated factors NH: Neonates ≤ 2 days old were [AOR=1.479, CI=95% (0.339-6.458), P-value=0.000]. Gestational age <37 [AOR=3.821, CI=95% (1.745-8.368), P-value=0.001], Sepsis 65(44.8%), Prematurity 32(22%), ABO incompatibility 15(10.3%), Breast feeding jaundice 13(8.9%) were significantly associated with neonatal jaundice. Conclusion and Recommendation: Magnitude of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in this study was high and nearly to half of selected neonates. Among identified associated factors of NH, Sepsis ,Prematurity ABO incompatibility and were the leading cause. So, early prevention and timely treatment of NH is important since it was a cause of long term complication and death in neonates.