Study of Some Factors Affecting Jaundice in Newborns at the Children’s Hospital in Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different factors (such as: sex, birth weight, blood group compatibility between the infant and the mother and type of feeding) on serum bilirubin levels in neonates with jaundice. A total of 72 newborns (aged 3–12 days) were picked and divided into two groups (A group of healthy neonates (12 newborns), A jaundiced group (60 newborns). Comparison between the groups showed a significant elevation in total serum bilirubin (P ≤ 0.01) in jaundiced neonates compared to the healthy ones. Regarding the effect of sex and weight on bilirubin levels in the jaundiced group, no significant differences were detected or shown. However, neonates with incompatible blood group and RH to the mother had a higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice) compared to those with matched blood types. Additionally, the study shows that breastfed infants had higher bilirubin levels compared to those on mixed feeding, whereas no significant difference was shown between breastfed and formula-fed infants.