Prevalence and factors associated with hypothermia among neonates in regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2022-10-31
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Global Journal of Health Science
Abstract
Background: Neonatal hypothermia is a major cause of mortality. This study determined the prevalence and
factors associated with neonatal hypothermia in two regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out between March and May 2021 at the Mwananyamala and Temeke
Regional Referral Hospitals. Simple random and stratified sampling procedures were used to select study sites and
proportionate population samples from each hospital respectively. Body temperature was measured within 90
minutes post birth; knowledge of the WHO guidelines on thermal protection of new-borns was collected from the
mothers and health care providers using questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to assess associations
between variables. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse the data and p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Total of 296 mother-new-born pairs and 41 health care providers were enrolled in the study. 26 mothers
did not consent for the study. 25.6% of the 270 studied neonates were hypothermic. Lack of skin-to-skin contact
with the mother; early neonatal weighing and bathing increased likelihood of neonatal hypothermia. Knowledge
of neonatal thermal protection among mothers and care-providers was inadequate.
Conclusions: The prevalence of neonatal hypothermia among neonates in the referral hospitals is high. The
findings suggest knowledge gaps of the WHO recommended guidelines on neonatal hypothermia are associated
with neonatal hypothermia. Efforts to increase awareness of the WHO recommended thermal protection guidelines
are needed.
Description
Keywords
Warm chain, Hypothermia, Skin-skin-contact
Citation
Akida, M., Malasa, L., Kalingonji, A., Kalabamu, F.S., Rutachunzibwa, F., Fataki, M., Mwaikambo, E. and Mashalla, Y., 2022. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Hypothermia among Neonates in Regional Referral Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Global Journal of Health Science, 14(11), p.37.