Prevalence, Risk factors and Outcome of Perinatal Asphyxia in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia is one of the leading causes of neonatal death in developing countries like Nepal. This study was done to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and immediate outcome of perinatal asphyxia in newborns.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, cross sectional, observational study conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences during a period of six months including 60 neonates. All inborn neonates with diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia with neonatal encephalopathy were included in the study and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) staging was done. The important maternal risk factors and fetal risk factors and immediate outcome of neonates were recorded.

Results: The prevalence of perinatal asphyxia was 14.5 per 1000 live births; males 45% (27) and females 55% (33). Meconium-stained liquor was the most common risk factor accounting for 36.7% of cases followed by premature rupture of membrane (26.7%), maternal fever (6.7%). HIE III had (100%) mortality followed by HIE II (15.3%) and HIE I (5.1%) respectively whereas HIE stage I had good recovery (94.8%) followed by HIE II (84.6%).

Conclusion: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid and premature rupture of membrane are the two most common risk factors. Early detection and timely intervention of high-risk factors causing perinatal asphyxia can decrease mortality as well as morbidity.