The prevalence of neonatal jaundice and risk factors in healthy term neonates at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
| Field | Value | |
| Title | The prevalence of neonatal jaundice and risk factors in healthy term neonates at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein | |
| Creator | Brits, Hanneke Adendorff, Jeanie Huisamen, Dyanti Beukes, Dahne Botha, Kristian Herbst, Hanre Joubert, Gina | |
| Description | Background: Neonatal jaundice affects one in two infants globally. The jaundice is the result of an accumulation of bilirubin as foetal haemoglobin is metabolised by the immature liver. High serum levels of bilirubin result in lethargy, poor feeding and kernicterus of the infant.Aim: The main aim of this article was to determine the prevalence of neonatal jaundice and secondly to explore its risk factors in healthy term neonates.Setting: Maternity ward, National District Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, mothers and infants were conveniently sampled after delivery and before discharge. The mothers were interviewed and their case records were reviewed for risk factors for neonatal jaundice and the clinical appearance and bilirubin levels of the infants were measured with a non-invasive transcutaneous bilirubin meter.Results: A total of 96 mother-infant pairs were included in the study. The prevalence of neonatal jaundice was 55.2%; however, only 10% of black babies who were diagnosed with jaundice appeared clinically jaundiced. Normal vaginal delivery was the only risk factor associated with neonatal jaundice. Black race and maternal smoking were not protective against neonatal jaundice as in some other studies.Conclusion: More than half (55.2%) of healthy term neonates developed neonatal jaundice. As it is difficult to clinically diagnose neonatal jaundice in darker pigmented babies, it is recommended that the bilirubin level of all babies should be checked with a non-invasive bilirubin meter before discharge from hospital or maternity unit as well as during the first clinic visit on day 3 after birth. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2018-04-12 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1582 | |
| Source | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine; Vol 10, No 1 (2018); 6 pages 2071-2936 2071-2928 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1582/2455
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1582/2454
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1582/2456
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1582/2425
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