FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO BIRTH ASPHYXIA AMONG NEONATES BORN AT JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL.

Abstract

Birth asphyxia is a very serious condition that affects neonates all over the world including Developed countries.It leads to neonatal mobility and mortality .It also causes brain damage to the newborns(Ischemic Brain Encephalopathy). It is ranked as the third cause of neonatal death with twenty three percent ,following preterm birth with twenty eight percent and severe infection leading at thirty six percent. It is estimated that twenty three percent of deaths among the four million neonatal death each year takes place as a result of prenatal asphyxia and those Who survive this condition end up with neurological disorders .These have long term consequences which negatively affect the newborn, family and community health wise and financially.

Main objective is to determine factors contributing to birth asphyxia among neonates born at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).These factors will include maternal ,neonatal and sociodemographic factors. Methodology used was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study .This study was employed among 30 participants whereby a convenient sampling technique was utilized in selecting study participants.

Semi structured interviewer guided questionnaires was used in data collection.These were administerd to the selected participants to identify factors associated with the occurrence of birth asphyxia .Cross tabulation was used to show the association between the dependent and independent variables.Data was then analysed using descriptive statistics like percentages and presented through pie charts and tables (tubular method).