Birth asphyxia in a resource-limited setting: Challenges and implications for neonatal care in Nepal

Abstract

Birth asphyxia is a common problem especially in low resource developing countries like Nepal during the delivery. Birth asphyxia remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and specially in developing countries like Nepal. Despite the advancement in medical science birth asphyxia still remains a major problem in newborn and preventing the risk factors after evaluating remains the center of reducing the prevalence. Proper healthcare protocols, early intervention and appropriate management is important for preventing long term sequalae and mortality. This study aims to assess the prevalence and risk factors of birth asphyxia in our institution. This hospital- based cross sectional descriptive study aimed to study the corelation between perinatal asphyxia with obstetrics and neonatal risk factors and to identify the complications of perinatal asphyxia. A total of 56 neonates were enrolled, and the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, Chicago) version 21. Prevalence of birth asphyxia in our setting is 2.1%. A significant relationship was found between meconium stained liqor and birth asphyxia. Mortality occurred in 7% of the neonates. As in our part of the world where the studies are very limited this study will be a great asset to evaluate the incidence and determine the preventable risk factors of birth asphyxia thus helping in reducing the grave sequalae associated with birth asphyxia.