Neonatal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score in newborn babies in an intermediate hospital in Namibia: a case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Apgar score is conducted to a baby immediately after birth checking how the baby tolerated the birth process and outside the uterus.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the neonatal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score and analysing the associations among factors associated with low Apgar score in new-born babies.

METHODS: A quantitative, case-control, descriptive research design was used. Study population were all maternal records of deliveries conducted between 01 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample size for 194 cases and 194 controls using a 1:1 case-control ratio. Records indicating low Apgar scores were the cases while normal Apgar scores were the controls. A total of 388 maternal files were reviewed. Data were collected using a document review checklist and analysed using SPSS version 26.

RESULTS: The study found that, neonatal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score are; gestational age, foetal presentation, cord prolapse, cord around the neck and the importance of cardiotocography interpretation as they had a P-value > 0.005.

CONCLUSION: Gestational age, birth weight, foetal presentation, cord around the neck and lack of cardiotocography assessment were found to be associated with immediate low Apgar score.