Risk Factors for Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Newborns Under 34 Weeks of Age in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Maternal Perinatal Institute, in the Period 2020–2022

The objective is to identify the risk factors associated with the development of necrotizing enter-ocolitis in newborns less than 34 weeks old in the INMP ICU during the period 2020-2022. The approach is basic, quantitative, non-experimental, and longitudinal, taking into account a total population of 20,371 newborns treated, but 7.95% of cases (1,620 patients) received an exclusive diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Information processing was carried out using the multiple linear regression model with NEC as the dependent variable. The results showed that in the INMP ICU, 7.95% of newborns treated were diagnosed exclusively with necrotizing entero-colitis (NEC). A multiple linear regression model was implemented using the stepwise technique, with NEC as the dependent variable and various independent variables, including maternal, ne-onatal, and other factors related to medical care. Several risk factors associated with the devel-opment of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature newborns under 34 weeks of age in the INMP ICU were identified. These include, among others, chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, and age of occurrence. The presence of chorioamnionitis was shown to be a significant risk factor, with a 0.754-unit increase in the odds of NEC for each unit increase. Neonatal sepsis was also significantly associated with a 1.114-unit increase in the odds of NEC for each unit increase. Therefore, these findings underscore the importance of identifying and adequately managing the risk factors as-sociated with necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal care in the INMP ICU.