Abstract:
Background: Neonatal period is among the riskiest period in life time. Neonatal death accounts for more than 44% & 42% of under-5 mortality globally and in Ethiopia respectively. Reduction in neonatal mortality is slower compared to reduction in under-5 mortality.
Objective: The objective of the study was to assess association between birth attendant and neonatal mortality in Ethiopia.
Methods: Cross sectional comparative analysis was conducted using Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2011 with neonatal mortality as an outcome variable and birth attendants as main factor by controlling main potential confounders. The sample size was 11, 654 live births occurred within 5 years preceding EDHS 2011. Variables of interest were identified; new variables were created; a new data set was created and made ready for analysis. A plan file was created and analysis was done using SPSS 20, complex sample logistic regression procedure.
Results: There is no statistically significant neonatal mortality difference between births that were attended by skilled birth attendants and those attended by unskilled birth attendants, AOR 1.6 (95% CI: 0.9 to 2.6). Male sex; very small, large and very large birth size; age of mother younger than 20 years; and low or no maternal educational level were found to be significantly associated with higher odds of neonatal mortality.
Conclusion & recommendation: There is no statistically significant difference in neonatal mortality between births that were attended by skilled and unskilled birth attendants.
Further prospective studies focusing on association between birth attendants and neonatal mortality and determinates for neonatal mortality among births attended by various groups of birth attendants are recommended.
........................................ Thesis available at ACIPH Library