Incidence, predictors and immediate neonatal outcomes of birth asphyxia in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with birth asphyxia and the immediate neonatal outcomes of birth asphyxia in Nigeria. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity Programme. SETTING: Fifty-four consenting referral-level hospitals (48 public and six private) across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. POPULATION: Women (and their babies) who were admitted for delivery in the facilities between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020. METHODS: Data were extracted and analysed on prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with birth asphyxia and the immediate perinatal outcomes. Multilevel logistic regression modelling was used to ascertain the factors associated with birth asphyxia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence, case fatality rate and factors associated with birth asphyxia. RESULTS: Of the available data, 65 383 (91.1%) women and 67 602 (90.9%) babies had complete data and were included in the analysis. The incidence of birth asphyxia was 3.0% (2027/67 602) and the case fatality rate was 16.8% (339/2022). The risk factors for birth asphyxia were uterine rupture, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, abruptio placentae/placenta praevia, birth trauma, fetal distress and congenital anomaly. The following factors were independently associated with a risk of birth asphyxia: maternal age, woman's education level, husband's occupation, parity, antenatal care, referral status, cadre of health professional present at the birth, sex of the newborn, birthweight and mode of birth. Common adverse neonatal outcomes included: admission to a special care baby unit (SCBU), 88.4%; early neonatal death, 14.2%; neonatal sepsis, 4.5%; and respiratory distress, 4.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of reported birth asphyxia in the participating facilities was low, with around one in six or seven babies with birth asphyxia dying. Factors associated with birth asphyxia included sociodemographic and clinical considerations, underscoring a need for a comprehensive approach focused on the empowerment of women and ensuring access to quality antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care.

Prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in referral-level facilities across Nigeria. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity Programme in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria. SETTING: Records covering the period from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. POPULATION: Mothers admitted for birth during the study period, and their live newborns. METHODS: Analysis of prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with neonatal sepsis and perinatal outcomes. Multilevel logistic regression modelling identified factors associated with neonatal sepsis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neonatal sepsis and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: The prevalence of neonatal sepsis was 16.3 (95% CI 15.3-17.2) per 1000 live births (1113/68 459) with a 10.3% (115/1113) case fatality rate. Limited education, unemployment or employment in sales/trading/manual jobs, nulliparity/grand multiparity, chronic medical disorder, lack of antenatal care (ANC) or ANC outside the birthing hospital and referral for birth increased the odds of neonatal sepsis. Birthweight of <2500 g, non-spontaneous vaginal birth, preterm birth, prolonged rupture of membranes, APGAR score of <7 at 5 min, birth asphyxia, birth trauma or jaundice were associated with neonatal sepsis. Neonates with sepsis were more frequently admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (1037/1110, 93.4% vs 8237/67 346, 12.2%) and experienced a higher rate of death (115/1113, 10.3% vs 933/67 343, 1.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal sepsis remains a critical challenge in neonatal care, underscored by its high prevalence and mortality rate. The identification of maternal and neonatal risk factors underscores the importance of improved access to education and employment for women and targeted interventions in antenatal and intrapartum care.

Serum leptin levels and relationship with maternal weight gain at term among obese and non-obese pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria: a comparative cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the mean maternal serum leptin levels, the prevalence of high serum leptin levels and mean gestational weight gain at term among obese and non-obese pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study enrolled obese and non-obese pregnant women. The serum leptin levels of the women were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were obtained and compared. Mean weight gain during pregnancy was determined. RESULTS: A total of 170 pregnant women were included in the study. The mean ± SD serum leptin level (99.39 ± 50.2 ng/ml) and the prevalence of hyperleptinaemia (81 of 85 patients; 95.3%) among the obese pregnant women at term were significantly higher than those of the non-obese pregnant women (48.98 ± 30.35 ng/ml/65 of 85 patients; 76.5%). The mean percentage weight gain was significantly higher in the non-obese women compared with the obese women at term. The predictors of high maternal serum leptin level at term among the participants were the employment status and levels of education of the participants. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum leptin level, maternal weight gain and prevalence of hyperleptinaemia at term were significantly higher in the obese compared with the non-obese pregnant women.

Utilization of Maternity Services and Its Relationship with Postpartum Use of Modern Contraceptives Among Women of Reproductive Age Group in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Utilization of maternity services (UMS) exposes mothers to family planning (FP) counseling and other FP promotional activities. Uptake of postpartum modern contraceptives (PPMC) reduces both infant and maternal mortalities by reducing unwanted pregnancies and promoting good child spacing. Understanding the relationship between UMS and uptake of PPMC was therefore very important. PURPOSE: To determine the association between UMS and uptake of PPMC among women of the reproductive age group in Nigeria taking into consideration the influence of the place of access to the maternity services. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a descriptive epidemiological study design. Secondary data obtained from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) was analyzed to achieve the above aim. The uptake of PPMC was the dependent variable (DV). The independent variables (IDV) selected were the number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, place of access of ANC, place of delivery, timing of postnatal care (PNC) and place of access of PNC. Other control variables include socio-demographic factors. Descriptive statistics, chi-square testing, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between the PPMC uptake and the IDV/other control variables. Statistical significance was claimed at p<0.05. RESULTS: Utilization of maternity services was associated with higher uptake of PPMC among the women (>/= 4 ANC visits OR = 2.08, 95% CI=1.65-2.62, P<0.001; public facility delivery OR= 1.80, 95% CI= 1.54-2.10, P< 0.001; private facility delivery OR =1.54, 95% CI 1.28-1.85, P< 0.001; PNC OR=1.21, 95% CI= 1.02-1.43, P=0.029). Accessing postnatal care in private health facilities was associated with increased uptake of PPMC (OR= 1.46, 95% CI =1.05-2.02, P= 0.024). The number of children alive, educational attainment, wealth index and having information about FP remained significant predictors of PPMC uptake. CONCLUSION: The utilization of maternity services was positively associated with postpartum use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. There was increased uptake of PPMC among women who utilized maternity service compared to their counterparts who did not. Regarding the place of access, accessing antenatal care as well as delivering in either private or public health facilities was not a significant predictor of PPMC use. However, accessing postnatal care in private facilities was associated with higher uptake of PPMC.