Masrida Sinaga, Fransiskus Geroda Mado, and Keristina Br. Ginting

Abstract:

Infant Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Indonesia remains high, where East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province is one of the contributors to this high IMR value, the highest mortality found in the East Sumba and South central timor regencies. Neonatal mortality happens due to risk factors faced by women and children. This study aims to analyze factors influencing neonatal mortality, which serve to contribute to the development of a control model. This study uses control case design, where the population consists of all neonates born (and recorded) at local hospitals and health centers located in the South central timor and East Sumba regencies, within the 2016 period. The sample consists 116 neonatal deaths, and the control consists of 232 live neonates within the closest neighborhood, with equated socio-economic status. Data are analyzed descriptively and inferentially through uni-variable, bi-variable (chi-square-test), and multi-variable (multiple logistic regression test) analyses. The study results show that most neonatal mortality in TTS (81.7%) and East Sumba (86.4%) regencies occurred within the early neonates, and those are mostly caused by asphyxia (69.2%). Risk factors faced by women relevant to neonatal mortality are women’s level of education (p-value = 0.02), nutritional status (anemia / Chronic Energy Deficiency) (p-value = 0.000), complication (p-value = 0.000), and ANC practice (p-value = 0.000). All researched risk factors raced by neonates are prematurity (p-value = 0.000), birth weight (p-value = 0.000), asphyxia (p-value = 0.000) and neonatal death related infection (p-value = 0,000). Most of infants are born with Low Birth weight (65.5%), and asphyxia (69.0%) died as neonates. Results of multiple logistic regression test show that complication suffered by women (p-value = 0.000), anemia (p-value = 0.01), asphyxia (p-value = 0.000), Low Birth weight (p-value = 0.001) and prematurity (p-value = 0.012) are the highest risk factors for neonatal mortality. Prevention of complication among pregnant women / women in labor and improvement of nutritional status of women before and during pregnancy are required to ensure that infants are not born with low birth weight, asphyxia, and prematurely, which in turn prevent neonatal deaths.

Keywords:  Risk Factors,  Neonatal Mortality, Asphyxia, Low Birth Weight, and Prematurity

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