Early neonatal mortality and its associated factors at Doctor Bogalech Gebre Memorial General Hospital, Central Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Early neonatal mortality remains one of the major public health challenges in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the magnitude of early neonatal mortality and its associated factors at Doctor Bogalech Gebre Memorial General Hospital, Central Ethiopia. A hospital - based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 11, 2021, to September 11, 2024, among 400 neonates aged up to 7 days. Data were extracted from medical records and the neonatal registration book using a checklist adapted from the World Health Organization and other literature. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with early neonatal mortality. The magnitude of early neonatal mortality was 16.5%, 95% CI: 10.6, 22.3%. Early onset neonatal sepsis [AOR = 5.21, 95%CI: 2.29, 11.82], respiratory distress syndrome [AOR = 4.40, 95%CI: 2.04, 9.50], perinatal asphyxia [AOR = 10.06, 95%CI: 3.95, 25.60], preterm birth [AOR = 3.42, 95%CI: 1.34, 8.73], low Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration (APGAR) score at 5 min [AOR = 3.76, 95%CI: 1.65, 8.60], continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) [AOR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.14, 0.68], and phototherapy [AOR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.41] were factors associated with early neonatal mortality. The high magnitude of early neonatal mortality emphasizes the need to strengthen neonatal intensive care, skilled birth attendance, infection prevention, and early management of complications.