Determinants of birth asphyxia among newborn live births in public hospitals of Gamo and Gofa zones, Southern Ethiopia

Pragmatic strategies for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries

Epilepsy poses a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where prevention, diagnosis, and treatment must be tailored to local resources, infrastructure, and cultural contexts. Despite their diversity, LMICs commonly experience a pronounced urban-rural disparity in epilepsy care, with rural communities facing limited healthcare infrastructure, a shortage of specialists, and pervasive stigma. Prevention efforts should focus on modifiable risk factors. Neurocysticercosis, a leading preventable cause of epilepsy in endemic regions, can be addressed through improved sanitation, access to clean water, and timely treatment supported by low-cost diagnostics. Enhancing perinatal care, injury prevention, and stroke management is also essential to reduce epilepsy incidence. Stigma continues to hinder care. Targeted education campaigns aimed at schools, community leaders, and the general public are vital to improving awareness and reducing discrimination. Bridging diagnostic gaps requires accessible, cost-effective tools such as portable EEGs, smartphone-based seizure recordings, and mobile diagnostic applications. Integration of these technologies into community health systems, and their use by trained primary care providers and community health workers, enables earlier detection and ongoing monitoring, particularly in underserved areas. Treatment strategies should prioritize "easy-to-use," well-tolerated medications such as levetiracetam. Improving the affordability of antiseizure medications involves promoting generic alternatives, revising patent laws, regulating drug prices, setting price ceilings for essential medicines, and enabling bulk procurement. National health insurance schemes are crucial to ensure access for low-income populations. Expanding access through home-based care by community health workers, mobile outreach clinics, telemedicine, and collaboration with traditional healers can further improve treatment adherence and outcomes. Finally, training primary care physicians in epilepsy care is essential, as they are often the first point of contact for patients in rural and resource-limited settings.

Determinants of birth asphyxia in urban south Ethiopia

Birth asphyxia is a well-known cause of neonatal mortality, and the survivors suffer from long-lasting sequels such as seizures, intellectual disabilities, and motor disorders that are great challenges for newborns. Elucidating the determinants of birth asphyxia helps implement evidence-based practice in the local context. Thus, this study aimed at elucidating the determinants of birth asphyxia in urban south Ethiopia. A community-based unmatched nested case-control study was conducted on a cohort of 2548 pregnant women who were followed up until delivery in urban areas of Hadiya Zone, south Ethiopia. All newborns who experienced birth asphyxia (n = 118) were taken as cases. Newborns who were randomly selected from the risk-set (n = 472) were taken as controls (those without birth asphyxia). A binary logistic regression was done using R software. Induction of labor [AOR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.20, 7.42], prolonged labor [AOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.37], delivery through cesarean section [AOR = 3.81, 95% CI: 1.67, 8.72], instrumental delivery [AOR = 3.91, 95% CI: 1.72, 8.89], and low birth weight [AOR = 6.52, 95% CI: 3.40, 12.51] were determinants of birth asphyxia. Asphyxia during birth was mainly related to obstetric care and maternal nutrition, highlighting the need to pay attention during the course of labor and maternal nutrition during pregnancy. This study might have selection bias and loss of power so careful interpretation of the results is needed.

Trend, prevalence, and associated factors of uterine rupture at Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia

Maternal morbidity and mortality have long been among the world's most challenging health issues. Uterine rupture is one of the peripartum complications that kills almost one in every thirteen mothers. However, there is limited evidence on uterine rupture trends, proportions, and determinants. Thus, this study assessed the trend, prevalence, and associated factors of uterine rupture at Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2661 clients selected using a systematic random selection technique among the data collected for the project between January 2014 and December 2022 at Nekemte Specialized Hospital. Data were collected through an interview-administered questionnaire and card review from March 2023 to August 2023. The collected data were checked, coded, and entered into Epi info version 7.2 and then exported to SPSS Version 27 for analysis. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify the factors of uterine rupture. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% Confidence Interval was estimated to measure the strength of the association, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. The trend of uterine rupture declined from 1.54% in 2014 to 0.93% in 2022. The overall prevalence was 3.53% (95%CI: 2.7%, 4.3%). Low household income (Adjusted OR = 3.75, 95%CI: 1.97, 7.13), grandmultiparity (Adjusted OR = 7.78, 95%CI: 4.70, 12.88), having a history of obstetrics complications such as prolonged labor (Adjusted OR = 3.78, 95%CI:2.11, 6.75), a history of cesarean section (Adjusted OR = 2.49, 95%CI:1.42, 4.35), and history of uterine repair (Adjusted OR = 18.01, 95%CI: 6.81, 47.64) were significantly associated with uterine rupture. This finding showed that the trend is declining, and the proportion of uterine rupture is still higher. A more vigilant approach to increase access to lower-income mothers, prevent prolonged and obstructed labor, and maintain antenatal care with complete packages and a referral system are issues to be addressed to minimize the chance of uterine rupture among women.

Effect of continuous workshop training of the helping babies breathe program on the retention of midwives' knowledge and skills: A clinical trial study

AIM

To investigate the impact of ongoing workshop training of the "Helping Babies Breathe" program on the durability of midwives' knowledge and skills.

BACKGROUND

Implementing the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program is crucial as a simple protocol for neonatal resuscitation in low-resource healthcare settings to decrease the rate of asphyxia and perinatal mortality by the initial healthcare providers. In addition to training in this program, it is also essential to guarantee the retention of the acquired knowledge and skills.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental clinical trial study with a single-group, pre-test-and-post-test design.

METHODS

This study was conducted throughout the year 2022, with a sample size of 61 midwives selected through a census sampling from those working in the delivery and operating rooms of X Hospital in x City. The midwives participated in 3-hour workshops. This study was performed in two stages: intervention and follow-up. The evaluation Instruments included the HBB educational package, which consisted of a questionnaire and 3 Objective Structured Clinical Exams. During the intervention phase, the HBB program training was conducted through a series of workshops held at four different time points over a span of six months. In the follow-up stage, the learners were not provided with any further training. The evaluation was done immediately after the initial training workshop of the HBB program, at the end of the final workshop in the sixth month and at the end of the follow-up period.

RESULTS

The mean knowledge score of the baseline, at six months and at twelve months after the initial workshop were documented as (17 SD1.2), (17.79 SD 0.4) and (17.73 SD 0.5), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean knowledge scores between the baseline and the six and twelve months (P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was observed between six and twelve months (P>0.05). The mean skill scores showed a significant improvement and were maintained after six months compared with the initial assessment (P<0.05); however, there was a significant decrease in skill score twelve months later, in comparison to both the initial assessment and the first six months (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare workers can maintain their knowledge and skills by participating in ongoing training workshops. However, without continuous training, their skills may diminish. Therefore, it is essential to implement training programs that emphasize regular practice and repetition to ensure knowledge and skills retention.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

The present research was a part of the research work with the ethics ID IR.IRSHUMS.REC.1400.019.

Magnitude of neonatal asphyxia and its predictors among newborns at public hospitals of Wolaita Zone in Southern Ethiopia, 2023

BACKGROUND

Neonatal asphyxia is one of preventable causes of neonatal mortality throughout the world. It could be improved by early detection and control of the underlying causes. However, there was lack of evidence on it in the study setting. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and predictors of neonatal asphyxia among newborns at public hospitals of Wolaita Zone in Southern Ethiopia.

METHOD

A facility-based cross-sectional study was done among 330 mothers with neonates in selected public hospitals. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklist. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Logistic regression was fitted to examine the association between explanatory variables and outcome variable. In multivariable logistic regression, AOR with 95% CI was reported, and p < 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables.

RESULTS

The magnitude of neonatal asphyxia was 26.4% with 95% CI: (21.8, 30.9). In multivariable logistic regression analysis primiparity (AOR = 2.63 95%CI 1.47, 4.72), low-birth-weight (AOR = 3.45 95%CI 1.33, 8.91), preterm birth (AOR = 3.58 95%CI 1.29, 9.92), and premature rupture of membranes (AOR = 5.19 95%CI 2.03, 13.26) were factors significantly associated with neonatal asphyxia.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the magnitude of neonatal asphyxia was high. From the factors, premature rapture of the membrane, parity, birth weight of the newborn, and gestational age at birth were significantly associated with neonatal asphyxia. Attention should be given to early detection and prevention of neonatal asphyxia from complicated labor and delivery.

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy based on clinical signs and symptoms and associated factors among neonates, Southern Ethiopian public hospitals: a case-control study

Background

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe condition that results from reduced oxygen supply and blood flow to the brain, leading to brain injury and potential long-term neurodevelopmental impairments. This study aimed to identify the maternal and neonatal factors associated with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy among Neonates.

Methods

The authors conducted a case-control study in 15 public hospitals with 515 neonates and mothers (175 cases and 340 controls). The authors used a questionnaire and clinical records created and managed by Kobo software to collect data. The authors diagnosed hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) by clinical signs and symptoms. The authors used logistic regression to identify HIE factors.

Results

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) was associated with maternal education, ultrasound checkup, gestational age, delivery mode, and labour duration. Illiterate mothers [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)= 1.913, 95% CI: 1.177, 3.109], no ultrasound checkup (AOR= 1.859, 95% CI: 1.073, 3.221), preterm (AOR= 4.467, 95% CI: 1.993, 10.012) or post-term birth (AOR= 2.903, 95% CI: 1.325, 2.903), caesarean section (AOR= 7.569, 95% CI: 4.169, 13.741), and prolonged labour (AOR= 3.591, 95% CI: 2.067, 6.238) increased the incidence of HIE.

Conclusion

This study reveals the factors for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy among neonates in Ethiopia. The authors found that neonates born to illiterate women, those who experienced prolonged labour, those whose mothers did not have ultrasound checkups during pregnancy, those delivered by caesarean section, and those born preterm, or post-term were more likely to develop hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. These findings indicate that enhancing maternal education and healthcare services during pregnancy and delivery may positively reduce hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy among neonates.

The determinants of neonatal asphyxia in the tropical province of China: A case-control study

As the major public health problem among under-5 children in the world, neonatal asphyxia (NA) contributes to 24% of the main causes of neonatal death. The effects of NA is not only limited to death but also has a long-term brain injury with lifelong adverse effects. Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify determinants of NA among newborns in the tropical province of China to guide early interventions and improve the survival and quality of life of these infants. A case control study was conducted at Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center from January 1 to December 31, 2021. A total of 255 newborns (85 cases and 170 controls, 1:2 case to control ratio) were enrolled in the study. A systematic random sampling approach was adopted based on hospital delivery registration. Structured questionnaires were used to collected data. The data was entered into statistical software SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. In the bivariable analysis, variables with P values less than .1 were entered into multivariable logistic regression analysis. At a P value of .05, a statistically significant level was reported. Amniotic fluid stained by meconium/blood (AOR = 3.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-6.95), primiparity, fetal presentation of malpresentation (AOR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.25-12.09), and low birth weight (AOR = 10.51, 95% CI: 3.02-36.55) were to be significantly associated with NA. This study identified that amniotic fluid stained by meconium/blood, primiparity, low birth weight were determinants of NA. Thus, preventive solutions such as close monitoring of fetus presentation, meliorating the obstetric care setup during antenatal care consultations should be stressed in China.

Henriques T. Machine learning models based on clinical indices and cardiotocographic features for discriminating asphyxia fetuses—Porto retrospective intrapartum study

Introduction

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the most frequent causes of neonatal mortality, affecting approximately four million newborns worldwide each year and causing the death of one million individuals. One of the main reasons for these high incidences is the lack of consensual methods of early diagnosis for this pathology. Estimating risk-appropriate health care for mother and baby is essential for increasing the quality of the health care system. Thus, it is necessary to investigate models that improve the prediction of perinatal asphyxia. Access to the cardiotocographic signals (CTGs) in conjunction with various clinical parameters can be crucial for the development of a successful model.

Objectives

This exploratory work aims to develop predictive models of perinatal asphyxia based on clinical parameters and fetal heart rate (fHR) indices.

Methods

Single gestations data from a retrospective unicentric study from Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto de São João (CHUSJ) between 2010 and 2018 was probed. The CTGs were acquired and analyzed by Omniview-SisPorto, estimating several fHR features. The clinical variables were obtained from the electronic clinical records stored by ObsCare. Entropy and compression characterized the complexity of the fHR time series. These variables' contribution to the prediction of asphyxia perinatal was probed by binary logistic regression (BLR) and Naive-Bayes (NB) models.

Results

The data consisted of 517 cases, with 15 pathological cases. The asphyxia prediction models showed promising results, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) &gt;70%. In NB approaches, the best models combined clinical and SisPorto features. The best model was the univariate BLR with the variable compression ratio scale 2 (CR2) and an AUC of 94.93% [94.55; 95.31%].

Conclusion

Both BLR and Bayesian models have advantages and disadvantages. The model with the best performance predicting perinatal asphyxia was the univariate BLR with the CR2 variable, demonstrating the importance of non-linear indices in perinatal asphyxia detection. Future studies should explore decision support systems to detect sepsis, including clinical and CTGs features (linear and non-linear).

ROP-like retinopathy in full/near-term newborns: A etiology, risk factors, clinical and genetic characteristics, prognosis and management

Purpose

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) like retinopathy (ROPLR) could occur in full/near-term newborns. The causes and clinical features are still largely elusive. This study focused on the risk factors, clinical and genetic characteristics, treatment and outcome, and prognosis of ROPLR.

Methods

A total of 47 consecutive full/near-term newborns during 2016–2017 with ROPLR were included. The clinical and genetic characteristics, treatment and outcome, prognosis, and potential underlying etiology of ROPLR were were analyzed.

Results

91 eyes of 47 infants were found to have ROPLR. The ROPLR regressed completely in 65.9% and partially in 20.9% of eyes without any interventions. Retinal changes of family exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) were allocated in 12 neonates (group A), perinatal hypoxia-ischemia were categorized in 17 neonates (group B), and the other 18 neonates were categorized in group C. Compared to those in group B/C, infants in group A had significantly more severe retinopathy (stage 4/5, p &lt; 0.001) and more treatments (p &lt; 0.00 risk factor 1).

Conclusions

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia might be a major risk factor for ROPLR, in which spontaneous regression was common. FEVR, confirmed by positive family findings and genetic testing, might be the second risk factor of ROPLR, in which retinopathy is more severe and treatment is needed.