Retrospective analysis of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: prevalence, associated factors, and treatment outcome

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, a condition marked by yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels, poses significant risks including kernicterus, a severe form of bilirubin encephalopathy. Understanding its prevalence, associated factors, and outcomes is crucial for effective management.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence, associated factors, and treatment outcomes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia.

A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted. We reviewed the medical charts of 328 neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital between January 1, 2019, and December 30, 2020. Data were collected using a checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 22, employing descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

The prevalence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was 44.2% (95% CI 38.9, 49.6). Sepsis (66.9%) and Rh incompatibility (4.8%) were prevalent among neonates with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Prematurity and age at admission were significantly associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Most neonates with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (94%) were treated with phototherapy alone, while a smaller proportion (6%) required a combination of phototherapy and exchange transfusion. The overall improvement rate was 93.8%, with a mortality rate of 1.4% due to bilirubin encephalopathy.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was prevalent among neonates admitted to Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, with significant associations to age at admission, prematurity, and sepsis. Effective management, including timely phototherapy and addressing resource shortages, is crucial to improving neonatal outcomes.