Risk Factors of Hyperbilirubinemia among Admitted Neonates in the Gaza Strip: Case Control Study

Abstract

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a widespread and significant clinical condition among neonates worldwide. This study aims at identifying the main risk factors, either socio-demographic, maternal or neonatal, that contribute to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia among hospitalized neonates in the Gaza Strip. The study is designed in a case-control fashion. The sample consists of 180 neonates (90 cases and 90 controls). Cases were selected from Al- Nasser pediatric hospital and Naser Medical Complex, while controls were selected from Khanyou ILS Martyrs clinic and Al-Remal Martyrs clinic. The researcher used an interview-structured questionnaire in the data collection process.Study results reveal that there is a significant association between family income and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (P value < 0.05). Among maternal factors; bivariate test by person’s chi-square revealed that there were significant associations between hyperbilirubinemia and the mothers’ blood group, maternal anemia and pregnancy disorders (P value < 0.05). Concerning neonatal factors, bivariate analysis usinga person’s chi-square showed that birth weight and feeding practices that include feeding method, feeding initiation time, feeding difficulty, and feeding frequency were statistically significant risk factors for developing hyperbilirubinemia (P value < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify the main predictors of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The results showed that there was a statistically significant association between hyperbilirubinemia and family income groups; < 1800 ILS (AOR: 23.345, 95% CI: 2.083-261.688) and > 2300 ILS (reference …