Neonatal mortality at the neonatal unit: the situation at a teaching hospital in Ghana.

Benjamin Atta Owusu,Apiradee Lim,Areeyuth SameAe,Priscilla Wobil,Nifatamah Makaje

doi:10.4314/ahs.v18i2.22

Benjamin Atta Owusu, Apiradee Lim + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v18i2.22

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Abstract

The first 28 days of life- the neonatal period is the most vulnerable time for a child's survival. Globally, neonatal mortality has seen a downward trend in recent years. The main objective of this study was to determine the percentage of neonatal mortality and to provide information on factors associated with neonatal mortality at the neonatal unit of a tertiary health facility or teaching hospital. Data of neonates admitted to the neonatal in-patient unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ghana from January 2013 to May 2014 were analyzed. Logistic regression model was performed to assess the association between neonatal mortality and predictors. A total of 5,195 neonatal admissions were recorded. The overall percentage of neonatal mortality was 20.2%. Infants with very low birth weight, having 5-minute Apgar score lower than 4, newborns with pre-term delivery, being referred from other health facilities, and being diagnosed with respiratory distress and birth asphyxia had a higher percentage of neonatal mortality. The mortality at the neonatal in-patient unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana is very high. There is the need for continuous attention and interventions to help reduce the risk of mortality among neonates admitted to the facility.

Highlights

The first four weeks of life are the most crucial period of life
The aim of this study was to investigate the major causes and risk factors of neonatal mortality and estimate the percentage of neonatal mortality based on the number of newborns admitted to the neonatal unit, called Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana
The neonatal unit consists of three wards: a High Dependency Unit (HDU) that admits sick newborns referred from the delivery wards

Summary

Introduction

The first four weeks of life are the most crucial period of life. It is within this period that infants are highly prone to illness and death. Almost 3 million newborns die within the neonatal period with half of these deaths occurring within the first 24 hours of birth. Almost 3 million newborns die within the neonatal period with half of these deaths occurring within the first 24 hours of birth1,2 Most of these deaths are attributable to infections, pre-term delivery and birth asphyxia. The neonatal unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), serves as the main referral destination for sick newborns from almost six out of the ten regions in Ghana. Infants with very low birth weight, having 5-minute Apgar score lower than 4, newborns with pre-term delivery, being referred from other health facilities, and being diagnosed with respiratory distress and birth asphyxia had a higher percentage of neonatal mortality. Neonatal mortality at the neonatal unit: the situation at a teaching hospital in

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