The Relationship between Neonatal Jaundice and Maternal and Neonatal Factors in Zakho City

Abstract

Background: Neonatal jaundice, which affects 60% of full-term and 80% of preterm infants globally, is a common physiological problem in neonates. It was linked to various factors like gestational age, male sex, birth weight, labor duration, multiple pregnancies, teenage pregnancy, diabetes, Rh and ABO incompatibility, breast-feeding, and vacuum extraction. The current study was designed and carried out to examine the effects of the factors mentioned above, on neonatal jaundice in light of the disparity between the findings regarding factors influencing jaundice in newborns (such as mode of delivery and anesthesia) and the continuously increasing prevalence of cesarean sections. Methodology: Cross-sectional research was carried out on 205 children hospitalized at Iraq's Zakho General Hospital, analyzing data from peripheral venous blood samples. The study involved hematological investigations, cell indices assessment, and a hybrid test. The ethics committee gave its approval to the study, and participants completed informed consent forms. SPSS vs. 26 was used for statistical analysis, with frequencies and percentages employed for descriptive statistics. A Chi-Square and t-test test were used to investigate the relationship between essential demographic characteristics factors and jaundice. A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. Results: A study found 205 newborns with jaundice, with 110 boys and 95 girls. Most were breast-feeding. The majority of mothers were between 20 and 29. The study found 122 cesarean births and 83 vaginal deliveries. Oxytocin was required in 47 cases of spontaneous births. The study found a significant difference in jaundice severity between children born by oxytocin induction and those born spontaneously. The severity of jaundice did not differ significantly between anesthesia techniques. Conclusion: Neonatal jaundice is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with male children and oxytocin infusion being the main predictors. However, a causal link between feeding style and high bilirubin levels is not established.