Background: Bacterial meningitis remains a serious health threat with high mortality and morbidity, despite advances in antibiotic therapy and modern vaccination strategies. There is paucity of evidences on the prevalence of complications and associated factors of bacterial meningitis in the study setting Objective:: To assess the complications and associated factors of bacterial meningitis among children admitted to pediatric ward of TGSH and FHCSH, north west Ethiopia Methods: an institutional -based retrospective chart review cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 children beyond one month admitted to pediatric service unit of Tibebe Ghion compressive specialized hospital and Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital from December 30th, 2023 to December 30th, 2025 G.C data were collected using semi-structured data abstraction tool and spss 25 was used for analysis. Binary logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with short term complication of bacterial meningitis. Model fitness was checked using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals and p-values ≤ 0.05 were used to declare a significant association. Result: This study analyzed data from 165 children beyond one month, yielding a 100% response rate. The overall prevalence of short term complication of bacterial meningitis was 47.27%, (95 % CI: 39.69, 54.97). Age AOR = 4.79, 95% CI: (1.26, 18.26), coma AOR = 4.03, 95% CI: (1.05, 18.92), nutritional statusAOR = 3.25, 95% CI: (1.37, 7.74), and immunization (AOR = 4.46, 95% CI (1.05, 18.92) statuswere found to be statistically associated with short term complication of bacterial meningitis Conclusion: the prevalence of short term complication of bacterial meningitis among children beyond one month was high. The child's age, presence of coma on admission, nutritional status, and immunization status were statistically significant factors associated with these complications. These findings underscore the substantial burden of bacterial meningitis in this population and highlight that the risk is amplified by specific clinical and demographic vulnerabilities.