Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Cauca, in collaboration with the University of Antioquia, have published a study titled "Influence of Time of Birth in Early Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity: Retrospective Cohort Study" in the BMJ Paediatrics Open journal, classified as Category A1. This work presents valuable findings to improve the quality of care during childbirth.

The study was led by a distinguished team from the Department of Pediatrics, including Dr. Gissel Viviana Ruiz and Dr. Andrés Felipe Pérez, both residents specializing in Pediatrics, along with Dr. Ginna Paola Cabra, associated researcher and project director. They are all part of the research group Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding, focused on analyzing health conditions in Cauca. Additionally, Dr. José Andrés Calvache, senior researcher and methodological advisor from the Anesthesiology Research Group of the Department of Anesthesia, contributed to the study.

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“This study revealed that nighttime births increase the likelihood of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Cauca. The results are significant not only for our local population but also serve as valuable evidence for other regions of the country and the world. Moreover, the methods used to develop the project are both innovative and robust,” stated Dr. Ginna Paola Cabra.

With a strong methodological approach, the study used data from mandatory records in a multiethnic region with diverse socioeconomic conditions, enhancing its external validity. Advanced statistical methods and a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) were applied to minimize bias and adjust for confounding variables, providing solid evidence on the impact of birth time on neonatal health.

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The analysis included 65,182 births in Cauca between 2017 and 2021. It showed that early neonatal mortality (ENM) was up to 70% higher during nighttime births. The likelihood of obtaining a low Apgar score at 5 minutes increased by up to 54% (a low Apgar score at 5 minutes is an indicator of potential long-term neurological compromise), and newborns delivered during the early morning hours (00:00 – 06:59) showed the poorest health indicators.

Based on these findings, the study proposes the following recommendations:

• Strengthen prenatal care.

• Improve emergency referral and transport systems.

• Review healthcare staff shift patterns and ensure 24-hour resource availability.

Thus, the impact and relevance of this study lie in its ability to provide essential information that reinforces the need for public policies ensuring equitable and quality care for the mother-child duo, regardless of the time of birth. Each finding represents another step toward building fairer and more humane healthcare systems.

At our institution, recognized as #HeritageForAll, we are immensely proud to have researchers whose passion drives projects capable of changing realities and positively impacting our environment. This work not only expands our knowledge but also holds the power to save lives, reaffirming our mission-driven commitment to excellence in research and transforming lives while making dreams come true.

Would you like to learn more about this study? We invite you to visit the following link: https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/9/1/e003236.

 

Written by: Center for Communications Management