Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Pattern in a Tertiary Health Facility in the Niger Delta Region: A 2-Year Review

Neonatal morbidity and mortality patterns could reflect the state of maternal and child health of a given area, and provide opportunities to strengthen health programs and interventions that do not achieve their set goals. The aim of the study was to review and document the neonatal morbidity and mortality pattern of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) in the last 2 years. A review of the medical records of neonates admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the DELSUTH from 1st of January 2018 to 31st of December 2019 was undertaken with the view of documenting the morbidity and mortality pattern. Data extracted from admission records included socio-demographic data such as age, gender, place of birth, mode of delivery, maternal age, maternal educational status and occupation of fathers. Also documented were clinical diagnoses and treatment outcomes. The collected data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed. A total of 180 neonates were admitted over the period under review with 104 (57.8%) males and 76 (42.2%) females. The mean gestational age was 37 ± 4 weeks, and the mean admitting weight was 2.4 ± 1 Kg. Forty-five (25%) neonates had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), 37 (20.6%) had neonatal sepsis, 36 (20%) had birth asphyxia and 32 (17.8%)) had congenital anomalies. Fifty-four (30%) mortalities were recorded with the highest case fatality rate recorded among preterm neonates with RDS (37.8%). The leading causes of neonatal morbidities and mortalities at the study centre were RDS, neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia and congenital anomalies.