SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Neonatology
This article is part of the Research TopicNeonatal Health in Ibero-America: Addressing Challenges for Better OutcomesView all articles
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Perinatal Asphyxia in Newborns in Colombia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
Sergio Agudelo-Pérez*
Valeria Mejia Echeverria
Laura Valentina Medellín Ortiz
Tania Dayana Garcia Cardenas
Juan Miguel Perez FlorezMaria Jose Maldonado- Universidad de La Sabana, Chía, Colombia
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Background. Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a critical neonatal condition and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite its clinical relevance, data on the prevalence and risk factors for PA in Colombia remain limited. This study aimed to estimate the cumulative prevalence of PA and identify associated risk factors in the Colombian neonatal population. Methods. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, and Web of Science databases was performed between July and August 2024. No restrictions were applied regarding the publication year. Data were extracted, synthesized, and analyzed using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² and τ² statistics, and potential publication bias was evaluated using Funnel Plot analysis and Egger’s test. Results. Nine studies with 16,778 patients were included. The cumulative prevalence of PA was estimated to be 5.92% (95% CI: 0.00, 25.03%) with significant heterogeneity (I² = 99.2%). Key risk factors associated with PA included meconium-stained amniotic fluid (pooled OR 7.5; 95% CI 1.4-39.6), prolonged second stage of labor (pooled OR 15.1; 95% CI 1.4-157.6), and intrapartum fetal distress (pooled OR 11.6; 95% CI 1.2-114.4). Conclusion. The findings revealed a notable burden of PA in Colombia and highlighted critical inconsistencies in the diagnostic criteria and reporting practices across studies. These results underscore the urgent need to standardize definitions, strengthen perinatal surveillance systems, and improve obstetric and neonatal care. By identifying major evidence gaps and the most consistent risk factors, this review provides a foundation for future multicenter research and for the development of targeted evidence-based interventions to reduce preventable neonatal morbidity and mortality in Colombia.
Keywords: Asphyxia Neonatorum, Infant, Newborn, Prevalence, Meta-analysis, Risk facors
Received: 18 Dec 2024; Accepted: 11 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Agudelo-Pérez, Mejia Echeverria, Medellín Ortiz, Garcia Cardenas, Perez Florez and Maldonado. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Sergio Agudelo-Pérez, sergio.agudelo1@unisabana.edu.co
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