Abstract: In Rwanda, one of the main causes of infant deaths is neonatal sepsis and it is claimed that 61 percent of newborns with low birth weight perished as neonates in 2017 due to sepsis. The main objective of this study was to assess prevalence and Factors associated with neonatal sepsis at Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospital. A quantitative approach, non-experimental, retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. To determine factors and the prevalence of neonatal sepsis, Researcher randomly selected 238 neonatal files out of the 588 newborns admitted from June 2022 to December, 2023. Data on socio demographic traits, neonatal health-related information, maternal health-related information, and medical procedure health-related information were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. The data were collected from the files, and information was entered on the given questionnaire. To conduct Data analysis, we used IBM SPSS package version 23 where by a descriptive analysis was conducted in form of frequency tables and percentages, for social-demographic characteristics, the prevalence and factors associated with neonatal sepsis were presented in the form of percentages and frequency tables. Finally, the researcher examined factors for newborn sepsis using Bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Among 238 neonates, majority were males accounting for 51.18% (n=122) of the neonates while female neonates accounted for 48.82 %(n=116). the majority of neonates had low birth weight (< 2500gm), representing 50.47% (n=120) while 49.53% (n=118) had normal birth weight (≥ 2500mg) and no one who had either extremely high birth weight (>4000mg or extremely low birth weight (≤1000 or 1500mg). The largest group of neonates had delivered at Hospital, comprising 59.48% (n=142) of the sample. A smaller percentage had delivered at Health center (31.99%, n=76). Only a few of neonates (8.53%, n=20) had delivered at home. About gestational age of neonates admitted at Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospital, majority (56.6%, n=135) of neonates were delivered at gestational age less than 37 weeks while the rest (43.4%, n=103) of neonates were delivered at gestational age that is equal or greater than 37 weeks. About sociodemographic factors of mothers, majority of mothers were multipara accounting for (82%, n=195) while the rest were primipara accounted for 18 %(n=43). The majority of mothers had attended ANC visits, representing 97% (n=231) while 3% (n=7) did not received any visit. The most proportions of mothers had prolonged labor (82%, n=195) compared to normal labor (18%, n=43). Regarding the Birth attendant and vaginal examination, the largest group of mothers had examined more than four times, comprising 91% (n=217) of the sample. The prevalence of neonatal sepsis at Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospital was 14.8%. Regarding the factors associated with neonatal sepsis bivariate and multivariate analysis revealed that being in age group (p= 0.025) and gestational ages (p=0.004) were a statistically significant associated with neonatal sepsis. Strong association with sepsis was found with neonatal age from 0-3 days (aOR: 2.769; 95% CI 1.312–5.843; p = 0.008), and gestational weeks < 37 weeks or ≥37 weeks (aOR: 4.149; CI 1.1878–9.167; p ≤ 0.004).In conclusion, neonatal sepsis was high and implementing these recommendations such as community awareness programs as well as resource allocation can help reduce the prevalence of neonatal sepsis and improve overall neonatal health outcomes in Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospital.
Keywords: Prevalence, Neonatal Sepsis, Level II Teaching Hospitals, Rwamagana, Rwanda.
Title: Prevalence and Factors Associated with Neonatal Sepsis at Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospitals in Rwanda
Author: Ms. Iyakaremye Christine, Dr. Nasiru Sani, Dr. Mochama Monica
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 13, Issue 1, April 2025 - September 2025
Page No: 145-159
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 03-June-2025
