Neonatal Jaundice Risk Factors at a District Hospital in Rwanda

Background Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission in the neonatal unit, and it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Objective To assess risk factors associated with neonatal jaundice among newborns at a District Hospital in Rwanda.  Methods A quantitative approach has been used with a retrospective cross-sectional design. Two hundred and ten files were used as sample size. Stratified proportional sampling was used for the years 2016-2018 to select files. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis.   Results The study findings showed that nearly half (44.3%) of 210 newborns were diagnosed with neonatal jaundice. The majority (87.2%) was term, and male gender (60.5%). Nearly a third (29.5%) were Low Birth Weight. Significant risk factors for neonatal jaundice were birth weight (p=0.015), gestational age of the newborn (p=0.002), neonatal gender (p=0.004), method of delivery (p=.000), blood group incompatibility (p=0.001); infections (p =0.000), cesarean section (p= 0.000) and prematurity (p=0.017).  Conclusion There was a high prevalence of neonatal jaundice. Neonatal jaundice risk factors were predominantly demographic, maternal and neonatal. Hence there is need to formulate tailored interventions that mitigate neonatal jaundice. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2020;3(2):204-213.