Empirical analysis of factors associated with neonatal length of stay in Sunyani, Ghana

Abstract

Postpartum length of stay (LOS) in hospital continues to be a subject of intense discourse and research, especially for mothers of neonates born with low birth weight (LBW). This study investigates the association of total LOS (pre and postpartum) with a range of factors related to geo-demographics, maternal health and pregnancy history. It also provides simple estimates of likely duration of neonatal hospital length of stay based on data from two public hospitals at Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. The LOS is affected by maternal age, parity (number of children ever born), neonate birth weight, maternal employment and income status. Smoking and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks were also found to significantly prolong the total LOS. The Log-normal model was the best parametric model for total LOS.