Factors associated with disability in children born with neonatal asphyxia

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Factors associated with disability in children born with neonatal asphyxia

Hélène Kamo Sélangaï Doka¹, Isabelle Mekone Nkwele², Yolande Djike Puepi Fokam³, Jeannette Epée Ngoué², Evelyn Mungyeh Mah².

¹Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon,
²Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon,
³Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon.

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Abstract
Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia exposes the patient to a significant risk of sequel, the most frequent of which is cerebral palsy.
Method: A retrospective case-control cohort study was conducted over a period of 41 months at the Yaoundé Gynaecological-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital (HGOPY). The aim was to determine the factors associated with neonatal asphyxia that leads to disability. The study population consisted of neonates who survived encephalopathy classified as Sarnat 2 or 3 (cases), and those who had an Apgar score >7 (controls). They were followed and examined by a neuropaediatrician. A total of 117 patients were selected: 39 asphyxiated and 78 non-asphyxiated. Matching was done according to age, sex, mode of delivery and place of birth.
Result: Of the 39 survivors of neonatal asphyxia 79.5% progressed to disability compared to 2.6% of those not asphyxiated (P: 0.000). The number of male children with disability was higher but not statistically significant P=0.623. Children born at our centre were also more likely to develop a severe disabilities P=0.6214. The majority of children with severe disabilities were born by cephalic presentation P: 0.4252.
Conclusion: In this study, only neonatal asphyxia was a risk factor for disability while other factors like sex, mode of delivery, place of birth were not significantly associated with the occurrence of disability.

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