Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Neonatal Sepsis in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify associated risk factors of neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted to a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh.

METHODS

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from December 2023 to July 2024. A total of 125 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were included in this study through systematic random sampling. Data on sociodemographic, maternal history, and neonatal clinical characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Neonatal sepsis was diagnosed in 69.6% (n = 87) of the neonates, with early-onset sepsis accounting for 60.9% and late-onset for 39.1%. Key risk factors significantly associated with neonatal sepsis included neonates with low birth weight (1.5-2.4 kg) (OR: 6.86, 95%CI: 2.22-21.2, p = 0.000), lower maternal education (OR: 13.6, 95%CI: 2.27-81.3, p = 0.002), low family income (OR: 2.71, 95%CI: 1.20-6.10, p = 0.025), and home delivery (OR: 3.16, 95%CI: 1.39-7.18, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a high prevalence of newborn sepsis in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh, which highlights the urgent need for preventive strategies. Strengthening maternal education, promoting institutional deliveries, and improving socioeconomic conditions are crucial for reducing neonatal sepsis. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to assess the prevalence of neonatal sepsis in Bangladesh.