Prevalence and risk factors of birth asphyxia at Livingstone University teaching hospital.

ABSTRACT: Birth asphyxia remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality in low-resource settings, with Zambia reporting a rate of 24 deaths per 1,000 live births. Birth asphyxia accounts for over 20% of neonatal ICU admissions. This study aimed to determine its prevalence and risk factors to inform targeted interventions. We conducted a secondary data analysis of medical records at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Zambia, including 497 maternal-neonatal records of deliveries between 15 July 2024 and 31 March 2025. Data were abstracted from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 1 and 20 April 2025 using REDCap. The primary outcome was birth asphyxia, defined as failure to establish spontaneous respiration with Apgar ≤5 at 5 minutes or hypoxic-ische

SUBMITTER: Ngongo NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12707660 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature