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. 2025 Aug 22:12:30502225251364989.
doi: 10.1177/30502225251364989. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.

Admission Hypothermia and Neonatal Mortality in the Ethiopian Neonatal Network

Kullehe Haddis Yeshanew  1 , Asrat Demtse  1 , Mahlet Abayneh  2 , Danielle E Y Ehret  3   4 , Firehiwot Markos Mekuria  1 , Erika M Edwards  3   4
Affiliations

Admission Hypothermia and Neonatal Mortality in the Ethiopian Neonatal Network

Kullehe Haddis Yeshanew et al. Sage Open Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Admission hypothermia remains a problem in low-income countries.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between admission hypothermia (<36.5°C) and neonatal mortality for newborns discharged from neonatal units at 20 Ethiopian hospitals in 2021.

Results: Among 12 363 newborns, 51.6% were admitted with hypothermia. Predictors for hypothermia and mortality included multiple birth, low birth weight, lower gestational age, and congenital anomalies. In a multivariable analysis, risk for mortality increased for infants admitted at <33.9°C [aRR 2.39 (95% CI: 1.66, 3.45)], 34.0°C to 34.9°C [aRR 2.45 (95% CI: 1.88, 3.20)], 35.0°C to 35.9°C [aRR 2.00 (95% CI: 1.46, 2.74)], and 36.0°C to 36.4°C [aRR 1.59 (95% CI: 1.24, 2.04)], compared to infants admitted at 36.5°C to 37.5°C.

Conclusions: Admission hypothermia was associated with a twofold increased risk of death. To address hypothermia, basic essential newborn care, proper warm intra-facility transportation, improved infrastructure and equipment, and skin-to-skin care should be prioritized.

Keywords: Ethiopia; hypothermia; infant; neonatology; newborn.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Drs. Ehret and Edwards receive grant funding from Vermont Oxford Network. The remaining authors have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of Ethiopian Neonatal Network hospitals included in the study.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Distribution of admission temperature.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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