Biological, Psychosocial Factors and Risk Behaviors Associated with the Development of Perinatal Asphyxia in Newborns of a Level III Institution of Cali, Colombia, 2012-2014

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. It generates high costs, for health care systems.

Objective: To determine the biological, psychosocial factors and risk behaviors associated with the development of perinatal asphyxia Sarnat II and III between 2012 and 2014, in new borns of a level III institution in Cali, Colombia.

Materials and Methods: With a design of control and cases where 216 patients participated, there were 54 cases and 162 controls. The cases where defined as new borns with moderate or severe perinatal asphyxia, with a gestational age equal or over 36 weeks. For the analysis, conditional logistic regression models were developed, that the cases and controls had been paired by the variables of birth and gestational age.

Results: The final model showed that, from the group of biological variables, the opportunity of the pregnant women who had meconiated amniotic fluid was (ORa 15.28 IC 95%, 2.78 - 83.94). the induction of labor (ORa 0.03, IC 95% 0.01 - 0.21) and the monitoring of the fetal heart rate (ORa 0.01 IC 95% 0.00 - 0.31). Regarding the social variables, it was observed that having a schooling up to secondary school (ORa 0.15 IC 95% 0.03-0.77). When applying the MOS questionnaire, the instrumental subscale showed (ORa 6.44 IC 95% 1.16 - 35.66).

Conclusions: Evaluating the biological, psychosocial factors and risk behaviors is importart in pregnant women, as they are associated to the development of perinatal asphyxia, in low income population.