Respiratory distress in term neonates: clinical profile and risk factors in a resource-limited setting

Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal respiratory distress (NRD) is a frequent clinical emergency and a major public health challenge, particularly in low-resource settings such as Djibouti. The objective was to describe the maternal and neonatal characteristics of term newborns admitted for NRD and to identify the main associated risk factors. Methods: A descriptive and analytical case-control study conducted between January and June 2023 at Dar El Hanan Hospital, including 429 mother-infant pairs. Results: The frequency of NRD was 7.3%. TTN was the leading cause (51%), followed by perinatal asphyxia (21%) and meconium aspiration (18%). Multivariate analysis showed that perinatal asphyxia (OR = 49.85), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (OR = 3.85), male sex (OR = 2.53), and rural parental residence (OR = 3.39) were independent risk factors. Despite a favorable outcome in 82% of cases, neonatal mortality reached 9.8%. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for early and appropriate management of term newborns with NRD.