Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A Neonatal Near Miss is a neonate who had severe morbidity but
survived within the first 28 days of life. Neonatal mortality is a significant problem in
many countries, for each neonatal death, there were as many as three to eight near
misses. Despite neonatal near miss has been designed as a tool to evaluate neonatal
care it is less researched in Ethiopia, unlike neonatal death especially on magnitude.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of neonatal near miss and associated factors
among neonates delivered in public Hospitals of West Arsi zone, Oromia region,
Ethiopia, 2021.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study design was conducted from August 1-30/2021. A
systematic sampling technique was used to select 331 study participants. A structured
and pretested questionnaire was used for mothers and a structured checklist was used
to collect for neonates. The data was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to
SPSS version 20 for analysis. For all the statistical tests, a significant level was
declared at p-value < 0.05 along with the odds ratio and its corresponding 95%
confidence interval.
Results: Out of 331 sampled respondents, 327 participated in this study with a
response rate of 98.8%, and the mean age of mothers was 25.9 with SD ± 6. In this
study magnitude of the neonatal near-miss was 84 (25.7%), (95% CI: 21.4-30.6).
Rural residence (AOR= 2.04, 95% CI: 1.10-3.76), history of Abortion (AOR= 2.28,
95% CI: 1.22-4.25), premature rupture of membrane (AOR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.23-5.77),
dystocia (AOR=4.19, 95% CI: 2.27-7.72), and maternal age less than 20 years (AOR=
4.98, 95% CI: 2.47-10) were variables found significantly associated with neonatal
near miss.
Conclusions: In this study, one out of four neonates delivered in public hospitals was
near-missed either by chance or treatment they received. Rural residence, history of
abortion, premature rupture of membrane, dystocia, and maternal age were a variable
that was significantly associated with a neonatal near miss. Giving health education to
mothers on danger signs during pregnancy and birth preparedness and complication
redness is important to increase maternal health Status and to minimize neonatal near
misses.
