Determinants of late-onset neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Arba-Minch general hospital, southern Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal sepsis can be either early (<7 Days) or late-onset ≥7days) neonatal sepsis depending on the day of the occurrence. Despite the decrement in early onset neonatal sepsis, there is still an increment in late-onset neonatal sepsis. Ethiopian demography and health survey report showed an increment in neonatal mortality in 2019/20. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the determinants of late-onset neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Arba-Minch general hospital, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution based study was conducted from March 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021 in Arba-Minch general hospital. Cases were neonates diagnosed with late-onset neonatal sepsis with their index mother chart and controls were neonates admitted with other diagnoses at the same period. Cases and controls were selected consecutively. Data extraction tool and interview which was developed by reviewing different kinds of literature was used to collect data. Data were entered by using Epi data version 3.1software and transformed to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 software for analysis. The binary logistic regression model was used to assess determinants and variables with a p-value <0.2 were transformed to multivariable logistic regression then, a p-value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval were used to declare significant association with the outcome variable. RESULT: A total of 180 subjects (60 cases and 120 controls) were included in this study. The mean age of neonates was 12.1 days with standard deviations of 4.3. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that; history of either sexually transmitted disease /urinary tract infection [AOR = 9.4; 95%CI(3.1–28.5)], being preterm (gestational age of <37 weeks) [AOR = 4.9; 95%CI (1.7–13.7)], use of endotracheal intubation/mechanical intubation [AOR = 8.3; 95%CI (1.8–26.4)]and either mixed types of infant feeding option or formula feeding before admission [AOR = 12.7; 95%CI(3.7–42.8)]were significantly associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This study revealed that antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum factors have shown an association with late-onset neonatal sepsis. It is recommended to strengthen counseling and advice to mothers with specific risk factors of late-onset neonatal sepsis.