We examined the risk factors for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (inclusive of ABE and kernicterus). We did not carry out separate analysis for ABE and kernicterus because of the limited number of studies with relevant data and the high but poorly documented risk of these factors among infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia from LMICs [15]. Statistical analyses were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software (Version 2.0.064, BIOSTAT, Englewood, NJ) [19]. To quantify the risk factors of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, we calculated pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models, and Z-statistic test for overall effect was done. The random rather than fixed-effects model was chosen as we anticipated a priori that eligible studies would be from different populations and have three different designs: cohort, cross-sectional and case-control. P