Risk factors and mortality in infants who received bag and mask ventilation at birth: a secondary analysis from the global network maternal newborn health registry

Objective: To identify risk factors for bag and mask ventilation (BMV) and compare mortality outcomes between infants who did and did not receive BMV. Study design: Secondary analysis of data from the seven sites of the Global Network Maternal Newborn Health registry, including fresh stillbirths and live births ≥ 1500 grams from 2017 to 2023. Results: A total of 171 279 births (98.9% live births, 1.1% fresh stillbirths) were included. BMV was administered in 3.9% of cases. Maternal education, labor complications, delivery location, and prematurity were identified as major risk factors for receiving BMV. Adjusted relative risks (95% CI) for very early neonatal mortality with BMV was 26.18 (23.02–29.79), early neonatal mortality 19.08 (17.40–20.93), neonatal mortality 14.23 (13.08,15.49, mortality < 42 days 12.86 (11.84,13.97) and asphyxia-related deaths was and 2.42 (2.11, 2.77). Conclusion: These finding underscore the importance of early identification of maternal and perinatal factors associated with receiving BMV to improve neonatal outcomes.