Table 3 Factors associated with proportion of death among preterm neonates admitted in NICU at University of Gondar specialized referral Hospital from January 2016 to March 2018 (n = 516)

Residence of the mother

 Gondar Town

1

1

 Out of Gondar Town

1.66 (1.08, 2.54)

1.17 (0.67, 2.01)

Complication during index pregnancy

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.95 (1.27, 2.99)

1.92 (1.09, 3.38)*

Previous bad obstetrics history

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.82 (1.11, 2.98)

1.86 (0.95, 3.63)

Gestational age

0.64 (0.57, 0.71)

0.78 (0.69, 0.91)**

Weight for gestational age at birth

 Small

2.05 (1.32, 3.18)

2.42 (1.33, 4.38)*

 Appropriate

1

1

APGAR score at birth

 ≥ 7

1

1

 < 7

3.53 (2.32, 5.37)

2.39 (1.34, 4.27)*

Neonates diagnosed for HMD

 No

1

1

 Yes

8.04 (4.98, 12.98)

5.15 (2.83, 9.36)**

Neonatal hypothermia at admission

 No

1

1

 Yes

2.10 (1.18, 3.74)

1.06 (0.46, 2.47)

Neonatal respiratory distress at admission

 No

1

1

 Yes

2.56 (1. 70, 3.85)

1.93 (1.13, 3.31)*

Clinically diagnosed PNA

 No

1

1

 Yes

2.65 (1.76, 4.01)

1.38 (0.77, 2.47)

Neonate diagnosed with jaundice

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.82 (1.19, 2.77)

3.39 (1.90, 6.05)**

Neonate received KMC

 No

1

1

 Yes

0.25 (0.11, 0.55)

0.13 (0.05, 0.35)**

Neonate diagnosed with hypoglycemia

 No

1

1

 Yes

2.48 (1.61, 3.84)

3.86 (2.12, 7.06)*

Neonatal temperature measured within 1 h of admission in °C

0.69 (0.59, 0.80)

0.83 (0.67, 1.02)