Study of neonatal morbidity and mortality patterns in a referral tertiary care neonatal unit of a teaching hospital

Dr Mir Sumsam Ali Khurram,Dr C.N Prasad

doi:10.17511/ijpr.2016.i08.08

Abstract

Objective: To find out the incidences and causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The present study is carried out with the objective of finding out the causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality at the referral neonatal unit of teaching hospital which caters to the neonatal deliveries in the hospital and the cases brought directly or referred from the smaller hospitals in the region. Methods: A hospital based descriptive study was conducted from January 2014 to December 2014. Each case was studied with reference to maternal / neonatal factors affecting the neonatal mortality and morbidity. The maternal factors studied were maternal age, parity, antenatal care, presentation, mode of delivery, medical illness and obstetric complications. Neonatal factors include sex of the babies, birth weight and gestational age. Result: Total admissions of neonates during the study period were 1169, out of which 385 were intramural (inborn) & 784 extra mural (out born). Approximately, 37.90% children were of low birth weight and 25.40% were preterm babies. HMD, birth asphyxia, septicemia, prematurity, hyperbilirubinemia, congenital malformations were the chief morbidities. The main causes of neonatal mortality were perinatal hypoxia (40.09%), infection (27.64%), Hyaline membrane disease (12.09%) and immaturity (8.29%). Conclusion: Neonatal mortality rate was 12.94% which was influenced by sex of the baby. Birth asphyxia tops the list followed by infection as the cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Highlights

Since the incidences of neonatal problems vary in different countries, It is essential to have data on the local patient population for planning a neonatal service of a maternity unit [1]
It is projected that 1 million babies suffer from birth asphyxia [4], respiratory distress syndrome and hyperbilirubinemia, while 0.5 million babies, showed evidence of neonatal morbidity and mortality
The present study shows that birth asphyxia developed in 286 neonates an incidence of 17.00% in which 167 babies I,e 9.96% were suffering from stage– II and 119 babies i.e. 7.10% were suffering fromstage- 111

Summary

Introduction

Since the incidences of neonatal problems vary in different countries, It is essential to have data on the local patient population for planning a neonatal service of a maternity unit [1]. These data can help in choosing the priorities in babies weight (< 2500 g) accounting for a high rate of morbidity and mortality [2]. Data on causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in a referral neonatal unit receiving home delivered neonates from the community as well as from the first referred unit in the government and private sector was lacking. Teenage marriage (60%) frequent pregnancies, maternal malnutrition, anemia and infection were important contributory causes [5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion