Risk factors for neonatal jaundice in babies presenting at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City

Abstract

Background: Jaundice is the yellowish discoloration of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes resulting from deposition of bilirubin. Neonatal jaundice is a leading cause of neonatal admis-sions in the first week of life and risk factors such as sepsis, prema-turity, glucose-6-phosphate dehy-drogenase enzyme deficiencies, use of native herbs and contact with naphthalene balls contaminated clothes have been identified for neonatal jaundice. were retrieved and information on biodata, gestational age, anthro-pometric values, potential risk fac-tors, level of serum bilirubin at presentation and discharge, mode of treatment and outcome were ex-tracted. Results: Of the 1784 babies admit-ted during the period, 472 (26.5%) were admitted for neonatal jaudice. Fifty seven percent of the babies with neonatal jaundice were deliv-ered in UBTH (in-born babies), while 202 (42.8%) of the babies were born before arrival (out-born babies) in UBTH. The Male: Fe-male ratio was 1.02:1. The mean age at presentation with jaundice was 3.43 ± 3.76 days of life. Out-born babies tended to present at an older age (6.08 ± 5.19 days) than in -born babies (2.47 ± 2.48 days). The mean serum bilirubin value in out-born babies (14.00 ± 4.58 mg/ dL) was significantly higher than that observed among the in-born babies (9.35 ± 4.38 mg/dL: p = 0.000). The risk factors identified were use of mentholatum, naphtha-lene balls and native herbs in 40.0%, 16.7% and 7.0% respec-tively. ABO incompatibility was found in 7.6% of babies. No risk factor was identified in 36.3% of the babies. The case fatality rate in this study was relatively high par-ticularly in association with sepsis, prematurity and asphyxia. Mortality was higher in out-born babies than in in-born babies (p= 0.00). Conclusion: Early presentation of babies and adequate management of sepsis and prematurity will reduce mortality associated with neonatal jaundice.