Determinants and Magnitude of Neonatal Sepsis at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a serious blood bacterial infection in neonates at the age of equal to or less than 28 days of life, and it's still the major significant cause of death and long-term morbidity in developing countries.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and related factors with neonatal sepsis among newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia.

Methods: An institutional-based retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted among 386 neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from September 2017 to August 2019. A systematic random sampling method was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.26. Descriptive summary statistics were done. Bivariate regression and multivariate analysis were computed. Variables with P-value <.05 were declared as having a statistically significant association.

Result: The prevalence of neonatal sepsis was 53.1%. Among the total neonates who had sepsis, 67.8% had early neonatal sepsis. Among neonatal factors, preterm neonates (AOR: 8.1, 95%CI: 2.1, 31.2), birth asphyxia (AOR: 4.7, 95%CI: 1.6, 13.6); and among maternal factors, urban residence (AOR: 0.26, 95%CI: 0.1, 0.5), antenatal care attendance (AOR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.2, 0.6), spontaneous vaginal delivery (AOR: 0.047, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.2), and maternal antibiotic use (AOR: 0.39; 95%CI: 0.2, 0.8) were found to have significant association with neonatal sepsis.

Conclusion: Overall, the magnitude of neonatal sepsis was high. Provision of neonatal and obstetrics care as per standard during prenatal, intranatal, and postnatal periods is needed. Training of health professionals on infection prevention and safe delivery practice should be provided.