Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome is a serious, potentially fatal condition that affects newborns with a high morbidity and mortality and continues to be a major contributor to neonatal respiratory distress, often resulting in respiratory failure and even death. Globally, around 4–22% of all births have meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and in 3-12% of those infants delivered eventually acquire meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the magnitude of meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units of public hospital in Arsi zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used to collect data among 345 participants from June 30 to August 30, 2023 in selected public hospitals of Arsi zone. The data was gathered through caregiver interviews and chart review. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25. To analyze the data, first bivariable, then multivariable logistic regression model was used and those variables with p < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. The model of fitness was tested using the Hosmer-Lemesho goodness of fit. Result: The magnitude of meconium aspiration syndrome in this study was found to be 26.0%. Post-term (AOR=3.34 95% CI (1.41, 7.98)), Antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=7.72 95% CI (2.82, 21.15)), Preeclampsia (AOR=6.55 95% CI (2.63, 16.29)), Premature rupture of membrane (AOR=2.41 95% CI (1.32, 4.41)), First minute Apgar score < 7 (AOR=2.69 95% CI (1.36, 5.33)) were found to be significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome. Conclusion: The magnitude of meconium aspiration was moderate as compared to previous study. Post term, Antepartum hemorrhage, Preeclampsia, Premature rupture of membrane, First minute APGAR score < 7 were significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, early diagnoses and management of those factors are important for reducing the occurrences of meconium aspiration syndrome.
| Published in | American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 12, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14 |
| Page(s) | 20-33 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Arsi, Magnitude, Meconium, Post Term
| [1] | Prachi, G. et al. (2016) ‘Study of Perinatal Outcome of Amnio infusion during Labor in Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid’, Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences, 4(6), pp. 2048-2051. |
| [2] | Chaudhary, R. et al. (2018) ‘Study of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Relation to Birth Weight and Gestational age’, People’s Journal of Scientific Research, 11(2), pp. 16-21. |
| [3] | Factors, R. and Meconium, f. o. r. (2013) ‘risk factors for meconium aspiration and mas (meconium aspiration syndrome) in neonates born through meconium stained amniotic fluid (msaf) in a tertiary care centre in’, 2(48), pp. 9489-9495. |
| [4] | Swarnam, K., Soraisham, A. S. and Sivanandan, S. (2012) ‘Advances in the management of meconium aspiration syndrome’, International journal of pediatrics, 2012. |
| [5] | WHO (2014) ‘Every newborn: An action plan to end Preventable deaths: Executive summary Geneva: World Health Organization.’, Who, Unicef. p. 12 p. |
| [6] | Elmi Farah, A., Abbas, A. H. and Tahir Ahmed, A. (2018) ‘Trends of admission and predictors of neonatal mortality: A hospital based retrospective cohort study in Somali region of Ethiopia’, PloS one, 13(9), p. e0203314. |
| [7] | Monfredini, C. et al. (2021) ‘Meconium aspiration syndrome: A narrative review’, Children, 8(3), pp. 1-13. |
| [8] | Sindhu, I. I., Jabeen, S. and Yasmeen, S. (2016) ‘To determine the frequency of meconium aspiration syndrome in infants and its effects & treatments with relevance to pneumothorax and sepsis’, Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 10(2), pp. 625-627. |
| [9] | V., M., R., J. M. and S., D. R. (2019) ‘A study on clinical profile of meconium aspiration syndrome in relation to gestational age and birth weight and their immediate outcome’, International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 6(6), p. 2346. |
| [10] | Wang, H. et al. (2012) ‘Morbidity and mortality of neonatal respiratory failure in China: surfactant treatment in very immature infants’, Pediatrics, 129(3), pp. e731-e740. |
| [11] | Moeed, A. et al. (2020) ‘Frequency and Outcome of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Babies Born with Meconium-Stained Liquor at Secondary Care Hospital in Pakistan: A Case Series Study’, Open Journal of Pediatrics, 10(03), pp. 381-391. |
| [12] | Chikwema, P. S., Madziyire, M. G. and Magwali, T. I. (2018) ‘Meconium staining of amniotic fluid and its associated perinatal outcomes at Harare Central and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospitals, Zimbabwe’, Central African Journal of Medicine, 64(1-3), pp. 1-4. |
| [13] | Mesumbe, E. N. et al. (2018) ‘Perinatal Outcome in Term Pregnancies with Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid in Two Referral Hospitals of Yaoundé- Cameroon’, 2(2), pp. 2533-2537. |
| [14] | Mazouri, A. et al. (2021) ‘The prognostic value of the level of lactate in umbilical cord blood in predicting complications of neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome’, The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 34(7), pp. 1013-1019. |
| [15] | Shaikh, M. et al. (2016) ‘Detrimental Complications Of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome And Their Impact On Outcome’, Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC, 28(3), pp. 506-509. |
| [16] | UNICEF and WHO (2020) ‘Survive and Thrive - Transforming care for every small and sick newborn: Key Findings’, p. 10. |
| [17] | Treeratanapaiboon, N. (2022) determinants of meconiuem aspiration syndrome among neonates’, Journal of The Department of Medical Services, 47(2), pp. 45-52. |
| [18] | Joseph, K. et al. (2017) ‘Incidence of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Risk Factors in Babies Born to Mothers with Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid’, 4(7), pp. 1457-1461. |
| [19] | Chand, S. et al. (2019) ‘Factors leading to meconium aspiration syndrome in term-and post-term neonates’, Cureus, 11(9). |
| [20] | Awgchew, S. and Ezo, E. (2022) ‘Determinants of meconium aspiration syndrome among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, South Ethiopia : Unmatched case - control study’. |
| [21] | Mamo, S. A. et al. (2023) ‘Prevalence and risk factors Associated with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome among neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Southern Ethiopia’, 4, pp. 33-38. |
| [22] | Tantu, T. et al. (2023) ‘after emergency cesarean section : study in a specialized hospital ’, (March), pp. 1-8. |
| [23] | Paudel, P., Sunny, Avinash K, et al. (2020) ‘Meconium aspiration syndrome : incidence, associated risk factors and outcome-evidence from a multicentric study in low-resource settings in Meconium aspiration syndrome : incidence, associated risk factors and outcome-evidence from a multicentric study’, (January). |
| [24] | Abate, E. et al. (2021) ‘Prevalence and Factors Associated with Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid in a Tertiary Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study’, Obstetrics and Gynecology International, 2021. |
| [25] | Study, A. C. C. et al. (2022) ‘Risk Factors of Antepartum Hemorrhage Among Mothers Who Gave Birth at Suhul General Risk Factors of Antepartum Hemorrhage Among Mothers Who Gave Birth at Suhul General Hospital, 2016 : A Case - Control Study’. |
| [26] | Li, J. Y. et al. (2019) ‘Pregnancy-induced hypertension is an independent risk factor for meconium aspiration syndrome: A retrospective population based cohort study’, Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 58(3), pp. 396-400. |
| [27] | Ratan, R. B. (2020) ‘Premature Rupture of the Membranes’, Gabbe’s Obstetrics Study Guide, E-Book: A Companion to the 8th Edition, p. 209. |
| [28] | Rovas, L., Razbadauskas, A. and Boguziene, E. (2018) ‘Risk factors that can lead to development of meconium aspiration syndrome’, Obstetrics & Gynecology International Journal, 9(3). |
| [29] | Addisu, D. et al. (2018) ‘Prevalence of meconium stained amniotic fluid and its associated factors among women who gave birth at term in Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized referral hospital, North West Ethiopia : a facility based cross-sectional study’, pp. 1-7. |
| [30] | Amenu Sori, D. and Belete, A. (2016) ‘Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid: Factors affecting Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes at Jimma University Specialized Teaching Hospital, South West Ethiopia’, Gynecology & Obstetrics, 6(8). |
| [31] | Hantoushzadeh, S. and Khooshideh, M. (2007) ‘Risk factors for meconium aspiration in meconium stained amniotic fluid’, (November 2015). |
| [32] | Singh, R. et al. (2022) ‘Epidemiology and risk factors for acquiring and predicting disease severity in meconium aspiration syndrome’, 16(4), pp. 239-244. |
| [33] | Kumar, S. and Akhouri, M. R. (2018) ‘Study of meconium aspiration syndrome and its clinical outcome in neonates’, 17(01), pp. 28-37. |
| [34] | Belgica, A. A. et al. (2016) ‘Preeclampsia : An update Preeclampsia : an update’, (JANUARY 2014), pp. 137-149. |
APA Style
Sime, T. K., Gemechu, T., Bekele, K., Hailu, D., Geneti, E. (2026). Magnitude of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia; 2023. American Journal of Pediatrics, 12(1), 20-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14
ACS Style
Sime, T. K.; Gemechu, T.; Bekele, K.; Hailu, D.; Geneti, E. Magnitude of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia; 2023. Am. J. Pediatr. 2026, 12(1), 20-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14
AMA Style
Sime TK, Gemechu T, Bekele K, Hailu D, Geneti E. Magnitude of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia; 2023. Am J Pediatr. 2026;12(1):20-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14
@article{10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14,
author = {Teshome Ketema Sime and Teklu Gemechu and Kumera Bekele and Dejene Hailu and Elias Geneti},
title = {Magnitude of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia; 2023},
journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {20-33},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20261201.14},
abstract = {Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome is a serious, potentially fatal condition that affects newborns with a high morbidity and mortality and continues to be a major contributor to neonatal respiratory distress, often resulting in respiratory failure and even death. Globally, around 4–22% of all births have meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and in 3-12% of those infants delivered eventually acquire meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the magnitude of meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units of public hospital in Arsi zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used to collect data among 345 participants from June 30 to August 30, 2023 in selected public hospitals of Arsi zone. The data was gathered through caregiver interviews and chart review. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25. To analyze the data, first bivariable, then multivariable logistic regression model was used and those variables with p Result: The magnitude of meconium aspiration syndrome in this study was found to be 26.0%. Post-term (AOR=3.34 95% CI (1.41, 7.98)), Antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=7.72 95% CI (2.82, 21.15)), Preeclampsia (AOR=6.55 95% CI (2.63, 16.29)), Premature rupture of membrane (AOR=2.41 95% CI (1.32, 4.41)), First minute Apgar score Conclusion: The magnitude of meconium aspiration was moderate as compared to previous study. Post term, Antepartum hemorrhage, Preeclampsia, Premature rupture of membrane, First minute APGAR score < 7 were significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, early diagnoses and management of those factors are important for reducing the occurrences of meconium aspiration syndrome.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Magnitude of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia; 2023 AU - Teshome Ketema Sime AU - Teklu Gemechu AU - Kumera Bekele AU - Dejene Hailu AU - Elias Geneti Y1 - 2026/02/09 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14 T2 - American Journal of Pediatrics JF - American Journal of Pediatrics JO - American Journal of Pediatrics SP - 20 EP - 33 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2472-0909 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20261201.14 AB - Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome is a serious, potentially fatal condition that affects newborns with a high morbidity and mortality and continues to be a major contributor to neonatal respiratory distress, often resulting in respiratory failure and even death. Globally, around 4–22% of all births have meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and in 3-12% of those infants delivered eventually acquire meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the magnitude of meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units of public hospital in Arsi zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used to collect data among 345 participants from June 30 to August 30, 2023 in selected public hospitals of Arsi zone. The data was gathered through caregiver interviews and chart review. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25. To analyze the data, first bivariable, then multivariable logistic regression model was used and those variables with p Result: The magnitude of meconium aspiration syndrome in this study was found to be 26.0%. Post-term (AOR=3.34 95% CI (1.41, 7.98)), Antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=7.72 95% CI (2.82, 21.15)), Preeclampsia (AOR=6.55 95% CI (2.63, 16.29)), Premature rupture of membrane (AOR=2.41 95% CI (1.32, 4.41)), First minute Apgar score Conclusion: The magnitude of meconium aspiration was moderate as compared to previous study. Post term, Antepartum hemorrhage, Preeclampsia, Premature rupture of membrane, First minute APGAR score < 7 were significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome. Therefore, early diagnoses and management of those factors are important for reducing the occurrences of meconium aspiration syndrome. VL - 12 IS - 1 ER -