The study of association of fetal and maternal factors in the occurrence of hyperbilirubinemia in early neonatal period

Abstract

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia in neonates is considered to be one of the common phenomena which generally occurs during the first week of life and usually leads to NICU admission in both term and preterm new-born babies. It is also regarded as one of the most common causes which leads to neonatal morbidity and mortality.Methods: A total of 100 neonates along with their mothers were enrolled in the study from time period between 2018 to March 2019. Newborns were assessed daily for the jaundice and serum bilirubin levels were done. Various fetal-maternal factors included in proforma were. analysed to find out the association of feto-maternal factors in the occurrence of significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Two groups, group A <15.7 mg/dl and group B>=15.7 mg/dl were taken. For data analysis chi square test is applied and p-value is calculated.Results: Statistically significant association between total serum bilirubin with neonatal factors like birth weight (p<0.014), maturity (p<0.011), period of gestation (p<0.003), and heart rate abnormality (p<0.005) and maternal factors like age in years (p<0.05), oral contraceptive pills use (p<0.005), and anti-epileptics use (p<0.034) were found to be linked to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.Conclusions: Neonatal jaundice should be considered as the main policy in all health care settings of the country. Therefore, identification of factors affecting the incidence of jaundice can be effective in preventing susceptible predisposing factors in new-borns and high-risk mothers.