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Abstract
Background: Jaundice is one of the major reasons for which neonates come to hospitals. Jaundice is characterized by yellow discoloration of skin and sclera along with associated symptoms and signs which include fever, poor feeding, and lethargy among patients. Jaundice is affected by various maternal and neonatal risk factors, however, they are understudied in our region.
Objectives: our study was carried out to evaluate the incidence of neonatal jaundice and factors that impact it.
Material and Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among neonates in tertiary care hospitals of the Rawalpindi, from May 2021 to August 2021. The sample size of the study population was 307 and participants were enrolled in study via the established standards of inclusion and exclusion along with nonprobability convenient sampling. Data was collected after taking informed consent. Data analysis was done through descriptive and inferential statistics via the Chi-Square test. P-value less than 0.05 was set significant.
Results: The Incidence of Neonatal jaundice in our study population was 29.70%. Neonatal jaundice was impacted by neonatal factors significantly by gender (p=0.01), gestational age (p=0.008), birth weight (p=0.003), sepsis (p=0.02), hypothermia (p=0.03), and cord clamping (0.05). Likewise, maternal factors were also linked with neonatal Jaundice significantly, and these included maternal age (p=0.0001), breastfeeding frequency (p=0.008), gestational diabetes (p=0.002), hypertension (p=0.001), premature rupture of membrane (p=0.003), and blood incompatibility (p=0.0003)
Conclusion: In brief, neonatal jaundice is affected by both neonatal and maternal factors. Addressing these factors can decrease hyperbilirubinemia-related neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Incidence, Neonatal, Jaundice, Determinants, Hospital, Cross-sectional