Abstract:
Background:-The Apgar score, is a critical tool for assessing the health of new born
immediately after birth, its clinical condition at 1st, 5th, and 10th minutes. low fifth minute
Apgar score is associated with many factors like obstetrics condition, maternal factors, neonatal
factors and intrapartum factors which linked to increased risks of neonatal mortality, neurologic
disability, and long term cognitive impairment.
Objective: To assess the magnitude of low fifth minute Apgar score And Its Associated Factors
among New Born Baby Delivered at public hospitals in Ambo Town, 2025
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at public hospitals in Ambo
Town. Descriptive statistics were used to describe frequencies, percentages, means, and standard
deviations. Bivariable analysis was conducted using logistic regression to select candidate
variables, with a p-value < 0.25 a candidate for multivariable analysis. Variables with a p-value
< 0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered statistically significant.
Result: This study revealed that the magnitude of a low fifth-minute Apgar score was 103
(29.6%) (95% CI: 0.25, 0.34). Independent factors such as lower maternal educational level
(AOR= 0.03; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.20) lack of antenatal care (AOR= 0.60; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.03),
anemia during pregnancy (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.33), and pregnancy-induced
hypertension (AOR = 0.06; 99.9% CI: 0.02, 0.18) were found to have significant associations
with the occurrence of low Apgar scores.
Conclusion: This study result shows that one third of the neonates had low fifth minute Apgar
score and the results of this study associated with lower maternal education, lack of antenatal
care, anemia during pregnancy, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Interventions like improve
maternal education, Encourage ANC follow up, management of anemia, and control of
pregnancy induced hypertension may help to reduce the magnitude of low 5th-minute Apgar
scores and improve overall birth outcomes.
