European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NEONATAL MORTALITY IN TERTIARY HOSPITAL (BAGHDAD TEACHING HOSPITAL): RISK FACTORS

*Aamer J. Alsudani, Firas H. Qamber and Sanna N. Muhamed Hasan

ABSTRACT

Background: The neonatal period (first 28 days of life) is the most critical time for a child’s survival. Neonatal mortality risk factors are complex, relatively improved slowly, but remains a major concern in developing countries. In developing countries where there is no satisfying registration and as most complicated cases referred to medical city complex, trying to determine the causes of neonatal mortality let to put strategies' that will help in reducing it. Objective: To evaluate the neonatal mortality potential risk factors. Methods: We reviewed all medical records of neonates that hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Baghdad teaching hospital from 1st December 2016 and 31st January 2017. Analyzed variables were sex, birth weight, gestational age, maternal age, place of delivery, mode of delivery, and sepsis. Subjects were enrolled; that is 208 cases 91died. Results: The total births during this period of study 2071 births, 1259 deliveries through caesarian section still birth 21 while normal vaginal deliveries 812, 42 dead births. NICU admission 208 with neonatal mortality rate 43.8%. Prematurity was the major cause of death 61.5%. multiple pregnancies with unplanned operation increased prematurity incidence, shortage of resuscitation equipment and limited training of nurses and doctors working in obstetric and neonatal care ward may attributed to increase mortality. Conclusions: Neonatal mortality is high; the Majority of the deaths were males in early neonatal period. The neonatal mortality risk factors in the NICU are preterm, labour complication, congenital anomaly and sepsis, in order to reduce morality we have to establish more trained centers with well qualified person.

Keywords: Neonatal mortality, risk factors, tertiary hospital, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), resuscitation.