Determinants of neonatal jaundice among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit in public hospitals of Sidama Region, Sidama, Ethiopia, 2022: an unmatched case-control study

INTRODUCTION: neonatal jaundice appears in most neonates as “physiological jaundice” in the first few weeks of life; however, pathological jaundice is associated with an increased risk of long-term complications and mortality only a few studies have been conducted on the determinants of neonatal jaundice in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of neonatal jaundice (pathological) among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Sidama Region general and referral public hospitals. METHODS: a hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 270 neonates in public hospitals of Sidama Region from June 23 to August 8, 2022. We used a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire and collected by open data kit (ODK) then the data was downloaded and exported to Microsoft Excel worksheets (XLS) and imported to SPSS version 26 for further analysis. Bi-variable logistic regression analysis was performed. Variables with a P-Value of less than 0.25 were included in multivariable logistic regression. Multi-variable logistic regression was performed and Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was computed and statistical significance was declared at a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: a total of 270 neonates with mothers (90 cases and 180 controls) with a response rate of 100% were included in this study. Factors significantly increased the odds of developing neonatal jaundice were multiparty (AOR=2.869(95%CI 1.426-5.769)), prolonged duration of labor (AOR=4.618(95%CI 1.689 - 12.625)). ABO incompatibility (AOR=3.362(95%CI, 1.185 - 9.537)). Preterm (AOR=2.936(95%CI, 1.2456.923)), birthasphyxia (AOR=2.278(95%CI,1.1454.531)) and polycythemia (AOR=3.397(95%CI, 1.147-10.061)). CONCLUSION: in this study multiparty, prolonged duration labor, ABO incompatibility, preterm gestational age, birth asphyxia, and polycythemia were factors that significantly increased the odds of developing neonatal jaundice.