Factors associated with low fifth minute Apgar score among newborns delivered at public health facilities of Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia, 2022

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify the associated factors of low fifth minute Apgar scores among newborns in Dilla town public health facilities, southern Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based case-control study was conducted in Dilla town public health facilities, Southern Ethiopia. The case and control groups were newborns with fifth minute Apgar score of < 7 and ≥ 7, respectively. The study included 534 participants (178 cases and 356 controls). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and record reviews. Consecutive and systematic random sampling was used to recruit cases and controls, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The degree of association between independent and dependent variables was assessed using adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Finally, variables with a p-value of < 0.05, were consider that had statistically significant.

Results

In this study, No antenatal care follow-up [AOR = 1.74, 95 % CI: (1.12, 2.69)], instrumental mode of delivery [AOR = 2.11, 95 % CI: (1.25, 3.56)], non-vertex presentation [AOR = 6.54, 95 % CI: (2.92, 14.65)], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR = 5.63, 95 % CI: (2.45, 12.95)], and gestational hypertension [AOR = 0.45, 95 % CI: (0.22, 0.86)] were significantly associated with a low fifth minute Apgar score.

Conclusions

This study found that no antenatal care follow-up, instrumental mode of delivery, pregnancy-induced hypertension, prolonged second stage of labor, and non-vertex presentation were all independently associated with low fifth-minute Apgar scores. These findings suggest the need for improved maternal and neonatal care during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period to reduce the risk of low Apgar scores and to improve newborn outcomes.