Prevalence and Factors Associated with Neonatal hypothermia: A Cross-Sectional Study among Healthy term Neonates in a peri-urban Hospital in Northern Uganda

Abstract

Abstract Background Neonatal hypothermia is highly prevalent even in warm tropical countries. Neonatal hypothermia increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. In Uganda, the exact prevalence of hypothermia is not known among healthy term neonates. Objective To determine the prevalence of neonatal hypothermia and the associated factors in Lira Regional Referral Hospital. Methods Hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted in Northern Uganda. Direct observations for initiation of warm-chain practices by the midwives during delivery were done for 271 newborns. The axillary temperature of neonates was measured at intervals of 10 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour and 2 hours after birth. The multivariate binary logistic regression was done. Pre-set 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05 used to identify factors significantly associated with neonatal hypothermia. Results Hypothermia was found in 67.6% of the neonates at one point in time during the first two hours postpartum. Neonatal hypothermia was 64.5% at 10 minutes, 81% at 30 minutes, 76% at one hour and 49% at two hours postpartum. Hypothermia was significantly associated with low birth weight (AOR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.01–7.62); male sex (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.04–3.33), not drying the newborn (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.64–5.72); no skin to skin contact within five minutes postpartum (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.15–4.10); and low maternal body temperature (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.49–4.76). Conclusions The prevalence of neonatal hypothermia was high in the first two hours. More than two-thirds of the newborns had hypothermia in the first two hours after birth. Neonates who were male, not dried properly, of low birth weight, not initiated on skin to skin contact and with low maternal body temperature were significantly associated with increased likelihood of developing hypothermia at two hours after birth.