Table 4 Multivariable analysis of factors associated with Birth Asphyxia

Socio-demographic characteristics

 Maternal age (years)

   ≤ 19

2.55(1.84–3.55)

 < 0.001

1.92(1.27–2.91)

0.002

  20 + 

1

1

 Education level

  None/Primary

1.63(1.11–2.40)

0.013

0.93(0.57–1.52)

0.771

  Secondary

1

1

  Tertiary

0.71(0.30–1.71)

0.452

1.45(0.55–3.81)

0446

 Employed

0.32(0.19–0.54)

 < 0.001

0.43(0.22–0.83)

0.013

 Wealth quintiles

  First (poorest)

2.21(1.56–3.13)

 < 0.001

1.45(0.93–2.26)

0.100

  Second to Fifth

1

1

 Hemoglobin levels (g/dl)

  Low HB (< 11.0 g/dl)

1.42(0.97–2.09)

0.074

1.29(0.81–2.05)

0.288

  Normal (≥ 11.0 g/dl)

1

1

Care seeking characteristics

 Distance from home to hospital

  0–5.0 km

1

1

  5.1–10.0 km

2.12(1.31–3.45)

0.002

1.41(0.79–5.50)

0.248

  More than 10.0 km

3.18(2.15–4.70)

 < 0.001

1.30(0.77–2.20)

0.330

 Hospital of birth

  Public

1

1

  Private

1.70(1.22–2.38)

0.002

1.09(0.70–1.70)

0.711

 History of fever in pregnancy

1.89(1.36–2.64)

 < 0.001

1.36(0.92–2.01)

0.127

Maternal infections in labour

 Placental malaria

1.62(0.64–4.10)

0.310

0.33(0.07–1.45)

0.139

 Syphilis infection

1.61(0.80–3.25)

0.181

2.45(1.08–5.57)

0.032

 High WBC count

2.39(1.50–3.83)

 < 0.001

2.26(1.26–4.06)

0.006

Intrapartum, birth & newborn factors

 Referral status

4.09(2.90–5.77)

 < 0.001

1.75(1.10–2.79)

0.018

 Prolonged labour > 18 h

3.35(2.41–4.67)

 < 0.001

1.88(1.25–2.83)

0.002

 Obstructed labor

4.96(3.25–7.59)

 < 0.001

3.40(1.70–6.83)

0.001

 Labor induction/augmentation

4.06(2.71–6.10)

 < 0.001

2.70(1.62–4.50)

 < 0.001

 Premature rupture of membranes

3.80(1.94–7.41)

 < 0.001

1.67(0.47–2.89)

0.735

 Mal-presentation/position

5.60(3.31–9.46)

 < 0.001

3.00(1.44–6.27)

0.003

 Mode of birth

  Spontaneous vaginal birth

1

1

  Cesarean section

2.06(1.40–3.03)

 < 0.001

0.75(0.41–1.39)

0.363

  Assisted vaginal birth

8.79(4.50–17.19)

 < 0.001

5.54(2.30–13.30)

 < 0.001

 Sex of the newborn

  Male

1.82(1.29–2.56)

0.001

1.92(1.28–2.88)

0.002

  Female

1

1

 Birth weight (in grams)

   < 2500

2.22(1.19–4.13)

0.012

2.20(1.07–4.50)

0.031

  2500—3999

1

1

  4000 + 

0.69(0.25–1.89)

0.466

0.92(0.30–2.81)

0.883