Risk Factors For Neonatal Mortality In A Regional Tertiary Hospital In Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the causes of neonatal mortality in a referral centre in Nigeria with a view to developing strategies that will help in reducing it. Methods: This is a retrospective patient record review of the records of 166 infants that died in the newborn unit between 1998 when the unit was established and April 2001. Results: During the study period of 38 months, the mortality was 166 (19.4%) out of a total of 854 admissions. Prematurity, birth asphyxia and sepsis topped the list of causes of death with 30.7%, 24.1%, and 19.3% respectively while postmaturity and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were least with 1.2% each respectively. Conclusions: To reduce this magnitude of mortality among this group of babies there is need to establish more centres with trained personnel that will offer optimal management for the high-risk pregnancies and strategies to reduce the incidence of prematurity and low birth weight babies must be instituted. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 7(2) 2004: 50-52