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. 2025 Mar 5;25(1):167.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-05181-4.

Meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit at Northwest Ethiopia comprehensive specialized hospitals Northwest Ethiopia 2023

Marta Adugna  1 , Kibret Asmare  2 , Amare Wondim  3
Affiliations

Meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit at Northwest Ethiopia comprehensive specialized hospitals Northwest Ethiopia 2023

Marta Adugna et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Meconium aspiration syndrome is a life-threatening respiratory disease due to the aspiration of meconium-stained amniotic fluid into the lungs, resulting in neonatal morbidity and mortality. Impacts of meconium aspiration syndrome include respiratory failure, intellectual disability, persistent pulmonary hypertension, and air leaks. But there is a paucity of literature in Ethiopia, especially in the study area regarding the study topic. The aim of this study is to assess the proportion of meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted at the neonatal intensive care unit in North West Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Methods: -An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 414mothers-neonate pairs from April 15-May 15/2023. Systematic random sampling was used to obtain study participants. Maternal interviews and a review of neonatal charts were used to gather data from 414 respondents. Then the collected data was entered and coded into EPi-Data version 4.6.0.2 and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis. Both the bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression models were used for analysis. AOR and 95% CI were used to measure association and strength, with statistical significance assessed at a p-value < 0.05.

Results: - A total of 414 neonate-mother pairs were involved with a 98% response rate. The overall prevalence of meconium aspiration syndrome was 23.43% with a 95% CI (19.6-27.8). Gestational age ≥ 41 wks (AOR = 4.8, CI = 2.02-11.22), labor duration ≥ 12 h (AOR = 2, 95%CI = 1.10-3.84), Premature Rupture of Membrane (AOR = 4.6, 95%CI = 1.12-10.12), oligohydramnios (AOR = 4.2, 95%CI, 2.17-8.14) and breech presentation (AOR = 6.9, 95%CI = 2.169-8.13) were significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome.

Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of meconium aspiration syndrome was relatively high. And Postterm gestation, oligohydramnios, duration of labor, Premature Rupture of Membrane, and breech presentation increased the prevalence of meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, to reduce the risk of meconium aspiration syndrome, Health professionals should assess laboring women for the presence of these factors and should stay alert to detect MSAF early for better fetal and maternal health outcomes.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Meconium aspiration syndrome; Neonates; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval (Ref. No; S/N181/2015) was obtained from the ethical review committee of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Gondar. A formal letter of administrative approval was obtained from Amhara Public Health Institute for each Hospital. Finally, both written and verbal informed consent was obtained from the mothers after explaining all the purposes, benefits, confidentiality of the information, and the voluntary nature of participation in the study before the data collection. All methods were carried out in accordance with the declarations of Helsinki and relevant guidelines and regulations. The names and/or identification numbers of the study participants were not recorded on the data collection tool. All data were kept strictly confidential and used only for this study’s purposes. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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