Neonatal Seizure Pattern, Short-Term Outcomes and Predictors Among Nicu Admissions in Ethiopia: A Multicenter Cross Sectional Prospective Study
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Date
2025-09-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background:
During neonatal period seizure is one most common presentation .Presentation and type is
different from elder children.It have high risk of mortality as well as morbidity with high risk of
neurological
impairment
or
future
epilepsy.
Hypoxic-ischemic
encephalopathy,
meningitis,hypoglycemia,and hypocalcaemia account the majority causes of neonatal seizure
.However little is investigated about outcomes of neonatal seizure in Ethiopia .
Objective: To describe neonatal seizure pattern, short term outcomes and its predictors among
neonates with seizure admitted to NICU’sofTikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Yekatit 12 and
Gandhi memorial hospital, AddisAbaba,Ethiopia.
Methodology:A Multicenterinstitutional-based cross sectional prospective study wasdone
among newborns with neonatal seizure admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Yekatit
12, and Gandhi Hospital from January 1 ,2025toSeptember 1, 2025.Data were collected using an
adopted form of standard with pretested, structuredquestionnaires. Data were entered using SPSS version
27 and analayed with SPSS 27 after checking for missing values .Descriptive statistics like mean, median
and mode were used to summarize descriptive data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression
analysis were performed and variables with p-value of < 0.25 were included for multivariate logistic
regression. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence interval were estimated to identify the
strength of association. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value <0.05.
Results:All of neonates with neonatal seizure were included with 100% response rate .The study
found that 30 (27.8%) (95% CI: 22.2, 36.9) had poor neonatal seizure short-term outcomes. The
study revealed that low 5th minute APGAR score (AOR=15.8, [95% CI: 1.06, 23.6]), history of
neonatal resuscitation (AOR=6.58 [95% CI: 1.25, 34.6]), presence of prolonged labor
(AOR=5.92, [95% CI: 1.13, 30.8]), and multiple episodes of seizure attacks (AOR= 11.3 [95%
CI :1.73, 47.9]) were predictors of poor neonatal seizure outcomes.
Conclusion:More than one-fourth of neonates with seizures experienced poor neonatal seizure
outcomes. Low5th minute APGAR scores, a history of neonatal resuscitation, prolonged labor,
and multiple episodes of seizure were predictors of poor neonatal seizure outcomes. This finding
emphasizes the critical need for correcting these risk factors. A coordinated effort by various
stakeholders is essential to implement strategies that improve neonatal seizure outcomes.
Description
Keywords
Neontal seizure, Newborn, short-term outcomes, Pattern