Neonatal mortality: morbidity pattern and risk factors in a resource-limited centre in North Central Nigeria

Introduction: Neonatal mortality rates in most developing countries, including Nigeria, are unacceptably high, and are a reflection of under-development.Neonatal mortality rates vary with prevailing disease conditions and socioeconomic characteristics, such as wealth, maternal education, geographic zone of residence, and place of residence.

Objectives: To determine the morbidity pattern and risk factors associated with neonatal mortality in the neonatal unit of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, North Central Nigeria.

Method: The study was a review of all cases admitted to the neonatal unit from 1^st January to 31^st December 2018. Socio-demographic data and clinical parameters of cases were entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet and analysis of data was by SPSS version 23.

Results: Four hundred and twenty-eight cases were reviewed of which 217 (50.7%) were males, 348 (81.3%) were term infants and 373 (87.1%) were delivered in health facilities. Forty-five (10.5%) neonates died during the period under review, and all deaths were due to asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and neonatal sepsis. Low socioeconomic class, low birth weight and preterm delivery were significantly associated with mortality (p<0.05). Risk of dying was highest with preterm neonates with RDS (AOR = 3.7; CI 95% = 1.0-13.1; p = 0.04)

Conclusions: The three leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality at the study centre were RDS, perinatal asphyxia and neonatal sepsis. However, prematurity was the most important predictor of mortality.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(3): 408-415