Abstract:
Introduction: - Meconium aspiration syndrome is a common cause of neonatal respiratory distress in
neonates who have breathed (aspirated) meconium into the lungs before or around the time of birth.
An average of 15% of live birth neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid have delivery
complications, and from these, around 5-10 % of them develop MAS out of this 50% chance of
needing mechanical ventilation, and 5-40% have a mortality rate.
Objective:-To identify determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome among neonates admitted to
the neonatal intensive care unit at West shoa Zone public Hospitals, Oromia Ethiopia, 2024
Method:-A facility-based unmatched case–control study was used with a total sample size of 267
cases and control ratio 1:2 (89 and 178) from October 2023 to February 2024. Data were entered by
using Epi Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Systematic random sampling was
applied. Primary data was used. Descriptive data were presented by frequency tables and percentages,
to determine the independent determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome, bivariable, and
multivariable logistic regression analysis. AOR 95% CI was calculated, and statistical significance
was declared at a p value less than 0.05
Results:-Two hundred sixty seven (89 cases and 178 controls) mothers with their respective neonates
were included in yielding response rate 100%, preeclampsia (AOR: 4.31,95%,CI: 1.93-9.59), post
term (AOR: 3.14, 95%CI, 1.19-8.31), Antepartum Hemorreghe (AOR: 2.37,95%,CI: 1.07-5.28),
Intrauterine Meconium Release (AOR:3.58, 95%CI, 1.63-7.84), Anemia(AOR: 3.26 95%,CI: 1.17-
9.04), Gestational Diabetics mellitus (AOR: 6.43, 95% CI, 2.90-14.36), Duration of labor >=12hrs(
AOR, 2.12 95% CI,1.04-4.31) and gastetional hypertension (AOR: 5.74, 95% CI: 2.60-12.66) were
determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome.
Conclusion:-In this study, preeclampsia, post Term, Intrauterine Meconium release, Anemia,
duration of labor, Antepartum Hemorreghe, gestational Diabetics mellitus and gestational
hypertension were determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, prevention of, early
identification, and management of these obstetrical factors may help to reduce meconium aspiration
syndrome locally
