Neonatal Sepsis and Its Associated Factors Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Primary Hospitals in Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis contributes substantially to neonatal morbidity and mortality and is an ongoing major global public health challenge particularly in developing countries. Studies conducted on the proportion and risk factors of neonatal sepsis in Ethiopia are from referral hospitals, which may not be generalized to primary health care units where a significant proportion of mothers give birth in these health facilities. This study sought to determine the proportion of clinical neonatal sepsis and associated factors in the study areas. METHODS: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2019, in Amhara regional state, central Gondar zone public primary hospitals in Ethiopia. A total of 352 subjects (mother-neonate pairs) were selected using a systematic random sampling technique and pre-tested and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify factors associated with neonatal sepsis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of associations and variables with p-values of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall proportion of neonatal sepsis was 64.8% (95% CI (59.2, 69.2)). Being male neonate (AOR=3.7; 95% CI (1.76, 7.89)), history of urinary tract infections during the index pregnancy (AOR =6, 26; 95% CI (1.16, 33.62)), frequency of per-vaginal examination greater than three during labor and delivery (AOR=6.06; 95% CI (2.45, 14.99)), neonatal resuscitation at birth (AOR=6.1; 95% CI (1.71, 21.84)), place of delivery at the health center (AOR=3.05; 95% CI (1.19, 7.79)), lack of training of health workers on neonatal resuscitation and infection prevention practices (AOR=2.14; 95% CI (1.04, 4.44)), late age of neonate at onset of illness (AOR=0.05; 95% CI (0.01, 0.21)) and maternal age of 30–34 years (AOR=0.19; 95% CI (0.047, 0.81)) were significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION: The proportion of neonatal sepsis is high. Maternal, neonatal, and health service related factors were identified for neonatal sepsis. Therefore, training of health workers, provision of health care services as per standards, and monitoring and evaluation of obstetrical/neonatal care during labor and delivery are mandatory.