The Relationship between Neonatal Jaundice and Maternal and Neonatal Factors in Zakho City

Abstracts:
Introduction: Neonatal jaundice is a prevalent physiologic issue in newborns, affecting 60% of full-term and 80% of preterm infants worldwide. It was linked to various factors like gestational age, male sex, birth weight, labor duration, multiple pregnancies, teenage pregnancy, diabetes, Rh and ABO incompatibility, breastfeeding, and vacuum extraction.
The aim of the study was to determine the connection between maternal and neonatal variables and newborn jaundice.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 205 children admitted to Zakho General Hospital in Iraq, analyzing data from peripheral venous blood samples. The study involved hematological investigations, cell indices assessment, and a hybrid test. The ethics committee authorized the study and informed written agreements were obtained from participants. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS vs. 26, with frequencies and percentages used for descriptive statistics. The association between basic demographic characteristics variables and jaundice was studied using a Chi-Square and t-test test. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value of 0.05 or less.
Results: A study found 205 newborns with jaundice, with 110 boys and 95 girls. Most were breastfeeding. The majority of mothers were between 20 and 29. The study found 122 cesarean births and 83 vaginal deliveries. Oxytocin was required in 47 cases of spontaneous births. The study found a significant difference in jaundice severity between children born by oxytocin induction and those born spontaneously. The severity of jaundice did not differ significantly between anesthesia techniques.
Conclusion: Neonatal jaundice is a common cause of morbidity and death, with male children and oxytocin infusion being the main predictors. However, a causal link between feeding style and high bilirubin levels is not established.