Prevalence and Risk Factors Associate with Neonatal Jaundice at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Cape Coast

Abstract

Neonatal Jaundices is a common adverse outcome among neonates in both developed and underdeveloped countries, which is implicated by several neonatal and maternal factors. This study determined the prevalence and determinant of neonatal Jaundice among neonates of mothers visiting the Teaching Hospital in the Cape Coast. This cross-sectional study recruited 1011 neonates from Teaching Hospital in the Central Region, Ghana. Neonates related characteristics and maternal information were obtained using structured questionnaire and hospital’s data records. The overall prevalence of neonatal Jaundices was 32.9%. After adjusting for maternal age, preterm neonates [(aOR= 7.49; 95% CI (7.49(3.35 to 19.04), p<0.0001], mothers who had spontaneous vaginal births [(aOR=1.36; 95% CI (1.02 to 1.79), p=0.0402], advanced maternal age 41-45years [aOR=2.53; 95%CI (1.28 to 4.97), p=0.0099], secondly gravida [aOR=2.87; 95% CI (2.04 to 4.07),p<0.0001], poor breastfeeding practice [aOR= 2.65; 95%CI(1.98 to 3.54),p<0.0001], neonates with septicemia [aOR=6.37(1.84 to 12.64), p<0.0001], neonate with G6PD defect [aOR=3.99, 95% CI(1.76 to 9.07), p=0.0010], neonate with low birth weight [aOR=1.38, 95% CI(1.06 to 1.81), p=0.0188] and neonate with respiratory distress syndrome [aOR=1.54; 95% CI(1.17 to 2.03), p=0.0022] and mothers with post-partum hemorrhage [(aOR=1.73, 95%CI (1.24 to 2.39), p=0.0013] were significant independent risk factors of neonatal Jaundice. Prevalence of neonatal Jaundice is high among neonate in Central Ghana. These is influence by a number of neonatal and maternal factors. It is incumbent on pediatrician to monitor and manage neonate-related adverse events to reduce development of Jaundice in neonate.