Objective:
To identify determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome among neonates
admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Nigist Eleni Mohammed
Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, South Ethiopia, in 2022.
Method:
A facility-based unmatched case–control study was used to identify meconium
aspiration syndrome with a total sample size of 249 from January to April
2022. Data were entered by using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS
version 24 software. Descriptive findings were presented by frequency tables
and percentages. Multicollinearity was checked and the goodness of fit test
was done. To determine the independent determinants associated with meconium
aspiration syndrome, bivariate analysis was done and variables with a
p
value of <0.05 were taken to multivariate logistic
regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was
calculated, and statistical significance was declared at a
p
value less than 0.05.
Result:
Two hundred forty-nine (83 cases and 166 controls) mothers with their
respective neonates were included in this study and that made the overall
response rate 100%. Preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio: 3.35, 95% confidence
interval: 1.02, 10.97), antepartum hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio: 3.63,
95% confidence interval: 1.50, 8.78), duration of labor (adjusted odds
ratio: 4.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.83, 10.30), premature rupture of
membrane (adjusted odds ratio: 16.02, 95% confidence interval: 5.66, 45.29),
and obstructed labor (adjusted odds ratio: 4.57, 95% confidence interval:
1.42, 14.70) were determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome.
Conclusion:
In this study, preeclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, duration of labor,
premature rupture of membrane, and obstructed labor were determinants of
meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, to reduce the risk of meconium
aspiration syndrome, prevention, early identification, and management of
these obstetrical factors may help to reduce meconium aspiration syndrome
locally.