Abstract BACKGROUND: The Apgar score is a method to quickly summarize the health of newborn children. It establishes a simple and clear classification of newborns, which could be used to predict survival and to compare methods of resuscitation and perinatal experience across hospitals and obstetric practices. Low Apgar score is associated with various immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes of newborns. Hence; in order to decrease the risk/complications, identifying the determinant factors of low Apgar is crucial to act on the modifiable risk factors. This study is aimed to investigate the determinant factors of a low Apgar score in newborn children.METHOD: The study was conducted in Lemelem Karl general hospital; northern Ethiopia. An institutional-based unmatched, case-control study was implemented. Data were retrieved from medical charts of 662 newborns’ mothers who gave birth in the hospital from Sep 2014 to Sep 2017. Among these, 221 of them were cases (charts of mothers whose newborns’ fifth minute Apgar score was <7) and 441 of them were controls (charts of mothers whose newborns’ Apgar score was 7 and above). Data was collected using a pretested and structured checklist using systematic sampling and data was entered & analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to determine the association and statistical significance was declared at P-value of ≤0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that low Apgar score was significantly associated with antepartum hemorrhage [Adjusted odss ratio (AOR) 3.509; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.526-8.067), P= 0.003], pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders [AOR 2.69; 95% CI (1.351-5.357), P= 0.005], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR 2.63; 95% CI (1.399-4.944), P= 0.003], Cesarean delivery [AOR 2.005; 95%CI (1.223-3.287), P= 0.006],meconium-stained liquor [AOR 6.955; 95% CI (3.721-13.001), P<0.001], and low birth weight [AOR 4.38; 95% CI (2.216-8.657), P<0.001].CONCLUSION: Result from this study showed a remarkable linkage of low Apgar score with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, meconium-stained liquor, and low birth weight. Therefore, meticulous antenatal care and labour management service are recommended to prevent low Apgar score and the concomitant neonatal death.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are among the most common causes of perinatal death. The disorders are highly linked to multiple factors that make prediction and prevention challenging. Early diagnosis and proper management play a crucial role in the wellbeing and life of the women and her baby. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between different management options of preeclampsia and perinatal death at a public hospital in Ethiopia. Methods: A document review was conducted on 241 preeclamptic patients' medical files who have been admitted and delivered in Woldia General Hospital from 2011 to 2016. The study was conducted from August 8-September 10, 2017 in the aforementioned public hospital in Woldia town, Ethiopia. Associations were tested using Pearson chi squared test and binary logistic regression with a p-value < 0.05 considered significant. Result: In this study, nearly 20 every 100 neonates from preeclamptic women has been died and the figure was higher (76.59% Vs 23.4%) among neonates from severe preeclamptic women than mild preeclamptic women (p = 0.01). More than two thirds of the patients (69.3%) received magnesium sulfate to prevent convulsion. Perinatal death among women with diastolic blood pressures greater than 110 mmHg at admission was nearly 3 times (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.824; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (1.154-6.038)) higher compared to women with diastolic blood pressures below 110 mmHg. Conclusion: In the 5-year period, the magnitude of perinatal death among inpatient preeclamptic women was remarkably high and of which stillbirths exceeded pre-discharge early neonatal death. Utilization of magnesium sulfate tended to increase across years. Maternal diastolic blood pressure at admission was significantly associated with perinatal death.

BACKGROUND: The Apgar score is a method to quickly summarize the health of newborn children. It establishes a simple and clear classification of newborns, which could be used to predict survival and to compare methods of resuscitation and perinatal experience across hospitals and obstetric practices. Low Apgar score is associated with various immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes of newborns. Hence; in order to decrease the risk/complications, identifying the determinant factors of low Apgar is crucial to act on the modifiable risk factors. This study is aimed to investigate the determinant factors of a low Apgar score in newborn children.METHOD: The study was conducted in Lemelem Karl general hospital; northern Ethiopia. An institutional-based unmatched, case-control study was implemented. Data were retrieved from medical charts of 662 newborns’ mothers who gave birth in the hospital from Sep 2014 to Sep 2017. Among these, 221 of them were cases (charts of mothers whose newborns’ fifth minute Apgar score was <7) and 441 of them were controls (charts of mothers whose newborns’ Apgar score was 7 and above). Data was collected using a pretested and structured checklist using systematic sampling and data was entered & analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to determine the association and statistical significance was declared at P-value of ≤0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that low Apgar score was significantly associated with antepartum hemorrhage [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.509; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.526-8.067), P= 0.003], pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders [AOR 2.69; 95% CI (1.351-5.357), P= 0.005], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR 2.63; 95% CI (1.399-4.944), P= 0.003], Cesarean delivery [AOR 2.005; 95%CI (1.223-3.287), P= 0.006],meconium-stained liquor [AOR 6.955; 95% CI (3.721-13.001), P<0.001], and low birth weight [AOR 4.38; 95% CI (2.216-8.657), P<0.001].CONCLUSION: Result from this study showed a remarkable linkage of low Apgar score with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, meconium-stained liquor, and low birth weight. Therefore, meticulous antenatal care and labour management service are recommended to prevent low Apgar score and the concomitant neonatal death.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of preterm births among mothers who gave birth in Axum and Adwa public hospitals, North Ethiopia, 2018. Result: This study showed that 13.3% from the total 472 mothers gave a preterm birth. Being a rural resident (AOR=2.13,95% CI:(1.07,4.22), short inter pregnancy interval (AOR= 5.4, 95% CI: (1.32, 22.05), previous preterm birth(AOR= 3.74, 95% CI: (1.03, 16.34), Premature rupture of membrane(AOR=4.14, 95% CI: (1.92, 8.89), induced onset of labor(AOR=2.49, 95% CI: (1.06, 5.85) multiple pregnancy(AOR= 5.69, 95% CI: (2.27, 14.28), malaria during pregnancy (AOR= 4.71, 95% CI: (1.98, 11.23), Presence of chronic illness (AOR= 4.55, 95% CI: (1.83, 11.26) were significantly associated with preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to investigate determinant factors of low Apgar score in newborns delivered at Lemlem Karl General Hospital, Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia; 2018. RESULTS: Socio-demographic characteristics of mothers were not significantly associated . However, antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=3.509; 95%CI 1.526-8.067), pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders (AOR=2.69; 95%CI 1.351-5.357), prolonged second stage of labor (AOR=2.630; 95%CI 1.399-4.944), meconium stained liquor (AOR=6.955; 95%CI 3.721-13.001)) & low birth weight (AOR=4.380; 95%CI 2.216-8.657) were significantly associated with low Apgar score. Some obstetric factors & one fetal factor were significantly associated with low Apgar score. Therefore, improving labor management of mothers those who are diagnosed with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders, prolonged second stage of labor, and meconium stained liquor is recommended. KEY WORDS : Determinant, Low Apgar score, Ethiopia.