Abstract:
Background; Neonatal hypothermia is an abnormal thermal state in which the body temperature
of newborn is below 36.5oC. It is a global problem and an important contributing factor to
neonatal morbidity and mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries including
Ethiopia.
Objective: To identify determinants of neonatal hypothermia among newborn admitted to
Neonatal intensive care unit of public hospitals located in West Shoa Zone, 2021.
Methods: Hospital-based unmatched case-control study design was done among 300 study
participants from August 1-September 30, 2021. All cases were consecutively included and
purposefully two consecutive controls which follow cases were selected. Mother related data
were collected from the mothers and newborn related data were filled from the chart of the
patient by data collectors with a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire and checklist
respectively. Data entry was done by Epi-data 4.6, and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software.
Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were done. Adjusted odds ratios
(AOR) was estimated and statistical significance was made at 95% CI and p-value <0.05.
Results: In this study 300 mothers and newborns cards (100 for cases and 200 for controls) were
selected giving 98.7% response rate. The mean birth weights for cases were 2.5 kg (SD=+0.76)
and 3.3 kg (SD=+2.49) for controls. Low birth weight (AOR= 3.35,95%CI:1.75-6.41), delayed
initiation of breast feeding (AOR= 2.76, 95%CI:1.09-6.95), lack of skin-to-skin contact (AOR=
3.27, 95%CI: 1.3- 8.1), absence of warm transportation (AOR= 3.52, 95%CI= 1.82-6.95), wet
linen utilization (AOR= 2.73, 95%CI:1.49- 4.98) and cesarean section delivery (AOR= 2.02,
95%CI:1.05- 3.90) were determinants of the neonatal hypothermia.
Conclusion and recommendation: Low birth weight, delayed initiation of breast feeding, lack
of skin-to-skin contact, absence of warm transportation, wet linen utilization and cesarean
section delivery were identified as independent determinants of neonatal hypothermia in this
study. The hospitals and health workers are then recommended to focus on preventive
mechanism. Further research is recommended on institutional factors
