The Association of Apgar Score Outcomes with the Number of Midwife Antenatal Care Visits Among Infants Born to Rohingya Refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the HOPE Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh Field Hospital in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to examine the relationship between the number of antenatal care visits (ANCV) and Apgar scores. This study aims to explore the association between the number of ANCV and Apgar scores in neonates born to Rohingya refugee women. The medical records at HOPE Field Hospital of 182 post-delivery Rohingya women in the Mhodhurchora refugee camp were collected through a medical chart review to obtain the number of ANCV and 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores. The Apgar scoring system is a standardized assessment for infants at 1- and 5- minutes post-delivery. Measures including skin color, reflexes, heart rate, and respiratory rates are scored to determine resuscitation needs. Potential covariates of Apgar scores, including maternal BMI, infant birth weight, length, and head circumference, were further evaluated. Gestational age, maternal age, and gravida were extracted as potential confounders. It is hypothesized that there is a positive association between antenatal care visits and Apgar scores. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and log-binomial regression for prevalence ratios. This research study will impact the Rohingya community and the HOPE Foundation by supporting the efficacy of their midwife-focused antenatal care and enhancing the understanding of the relationship between ANCV and the incidence of infant mortality and morbidity, as indicated by low Apgar scores