Mortality rate among Iraqi neonates in neonatal intensive care units: Retrospective study

Abstract

BackgroundNeonatal mortality (NM) is defined as the death of babies within the first 28 days of their lives, and it's considered a key outcome indicator used to assess and evaluate the development of maternal and neonatal health services in the community. ObjectiveTo identify the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and to find out the essential causes and related factors of mortality among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) at all hospitals of Babylon governorate/Iraq. MethodsA retrospective study was used to review the medical records of all the admitted neonates (No = 27379) to the NICU at hospitals of Babylon governorate, throughout 2020 and 2021 years, the study was done from mid-November 2022 to the end of March 2023. Data were obtained from the statistical department in the health directorate of Babylon governorate electronically from the program called (Microsoft Visual FoxPro). ResultsThe neonatal deaths rate was 42.9 for each 1000 live birth in 2020 and September 38, 1000 live birth in 2021 among all admitted neonates in Babylon hospitals, NMR was very high among neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (48% in 2020 and 55.2% in 2021), and low-birth-weight preterm neonates (25.8% in 2020 and 10.3% in 2021). The obstetric history such as gestational age, mode and place of delivery, and type of pregnancy, as well as birth weight, age at the time of death, and residency, were significantly associated with high rates of neonates’ mortality. ConclusionThe neonatal mortality rate was high in Babylon governmental hospitals, especially the hospitals in rural areas. RDS and prematurity were the main cause of neonatal deaths. Furthermore, the maternal history and neonatal characteristics data were associated with increased NMR in prematurity, low birth weight, normal delivery, and delivery at home than a hospital, and in single birth than twins in both 2020 and 2021.