Journal of North Khorasan

Background & Objectives: asphyxia increases Infant mortality rate and it can cause serious complications and long-term disability condition. Therefore this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of birth asphyxia. Material & Methods: In this case-control study, newborns of Bint al-Huda hospital in Bojnurd in 2012 were studied in terms of Asphyxia by census. With equal number of newborns with asphyxia (75 cases), control cases (75 controls) that had not Asphyxia were selected with Systematic sampling. The information was collected from the records and interviews with mothers by questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS18 statistical software with independent t-tests and chi-square. Results: The incidence of asphyxia in this study were determined 2.1% (75 cases) and relationship between maternal height (p =0.01), the use of suction (p =0.04), the proportion of embryos with maternal pelvis (p =0.02), delayed delivery (p =0.01), cord compression (p =0.03), postpartum hemorrhage (p =0.01) and the delivery of foot (p =0.03) with asphyxia were statistically significant. The relationship between maternal age, birth weight, mother’s parity old, gender, delivery type, preterm delivery, heart disease and maternal diabetes with asphyxia was not observed . Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of asphyxia in this study, and its serious complications, control and management of affecting factors on asphyxia should be among the priorities of the health care system.