PERINATAL RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BIRTH ASPHYXIA AMONG TERM NEONATES AT COUNTY REFFERAL HOSPITAL, KENYA.

Despite the important advances in perinatal care in the past decades, asphyxia remains a severe condition leading to significant mortality and morbidity. Perinatal asphyxia has an incidence of 1 to 6 per 1,000 live full-term births, and represents the third most common cause of neonatal death (23%) after preterm birth (28%) and severe infections (26%). The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with Birth asphyxia in order to develop preventive interventions to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. This was retrospective institutional based study which involved all neonates born at term diagnosed with and without birth asphyxia. Systematic sampling was utilized as the researcher was interested in neonates with and without birth asphyxia. Data for analysis was captured via SPSS version 19 and summaries such as means, percentages and standard deviations were generate. Out of total 422 neonates, 123 (29.1%) had birth asphyxia and rest 299 (70.9%) were normal. Significant socio-demographic risk factors were maternal age (OR 3.0 CI 95% 1.9 ? 4.9, <0.0001), education level (OR 3.8259; CI 95% p-value <.0001) and parity (OR 1.81; CI 95% 1.08-3.02; p-value=0.0226). There are numerous risk factors that can be linked to sequence of birth asphyxia and they may vary from one context to another. Socio-demographic: risk factors of birth asphyxia included mother?s age, education level and parity. The study recommendations that more care to be given to younger mothers at the time of delivery because they are thrice at risk of birth asphyxia compared to older mothers. In addition, community health workers should be trained for emergency obstetric care, basic newborn care including preliminary resuscitation measures to provide skilled birth attendance and encourage early recognition and referral for early interventions.