Khalid Munir Suleri, Qamar Sohail John, Syed Shah Hassan, Muhammad Tariq Bhatti, Zeeno Naeem, Mujahid Hussain.
Predictors for Birth injuries on Head and Neck regions of Newborns; a Single-Hospital Study.
Pak Paed J Jan ;43(1):15-20.

Objective: To identify the risk factors for birth trauma (BT) on head and neck regions in neonates born in a secondary care hospital Methods: The case-control study was conducted in the Memorial Christian Hospital, Sialkot. All consecutive live singleton neonates born during the study period 2012-2017 were included in the study. The diagnosed cases of the BT including cephalohematoma, caput succadeneum, scalp/facial laceration or subgaleal hemorrhage were enrolled in the study group. Fetomaternal and birth events of the group were compared with control group of healthy neonates to identify the predictors. Results: Out of 18817 live singleton births, 99 had one of the 4 specified types of BT (incidence 5.2/1000 live births). The most common injury was caput succedaneum (49.5%, n = 49). The primiparity and male gender were found as determinants of BT (50.5% and 67.4%, respectively). A baby born to a mother (assisted by a traditional birth attendant) was at 1.40 times more risk of BT (95% CI: 1.179-1.660) than the babies delivered by professionals at hospitals (p = .001). Similarly, a neonate of non/late booked woman was under higher risk of trauma (RR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.110-1.587, p = .002). Chances of the injuries were higher in babies born through vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery (p = .001). Conclusion: The BT is the outcome of multiple predictors including exposure to traditional birth attendant, late hospital referral, and vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery. Precise state and community intervention is needed to address these practices for better neonatal outcome.

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