A prospective observational study of morbidity and mortality profile of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit in a tribal area of central India

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, 2.6 (2.5–2.8) million newborns died in 2016 or 7000 every day. High neonatal mortality rate reflects the presence of unfavorable social, economic, and environmental conditions. Objectives: To find morbidities and causes of poor outcome in a tertiary care neonatal unit of eastern part of Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: The present prospective observational study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care center, Gondia, in Central India which is situated in remote, tribal place during. Data were collected by interview method using a predesigned, semi-structured questionnaire. Neonatal variables used were total number of admissions, gender, birth weight, and gestational age, diagnosis at admission, final outcome, and duration of stay. Results: There were a total of 2017 admissions during the study period and out of them, 62.96% were inborn neonates and 37.04% were outborn. Males (56.67%) had slightly higher admission rate than females (43.33%). Pre-term admissions were 40.06%. The majority of admissions were due to low birth weight (LBW) (60.19%). Preterm and related complications (49.43%) were ranked highest followed by jaundice (16.46%). Out of the total 2017 neonates, 218 died following admission. Prematurity (45.41%) followed by sepsis (22.48%) were reasons for mortality among neonates. Conclusion: We have tried to present neonatal morbidity pattern and outcome parameters from a tertiary care neonatal center in a developing country. Prematurity, sepsis, and birth asphyxia were accounting for morbidities and mortalities. The preterm and LBW babies had significantly higher mortality even with standard intensive care.

Characteristics & outcomes of tribal & non-tribal neonates admitted to a special newborn care unit in rural Gujarat, India

“…It was also less than the overall mortality rate for SNCUs in the State of Gujarat, which was reported as 19 per cent from 2013 to 2015 9 . The causes of death in newborns in the SNCU at Kasturba Hospital were similar to those listed in studies of neonatal mortality in other SNCUs in India where studies have shown the main causes of death being sepsis/pneumonia, birth asphyxia, prematurity and respiratory problems 6 7 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 . These causes of mortality are also similar to other SNCUs throughout Gujarat, where analyses revealed the main causes of death being prematurity-related complications, birth-related complications and infections leading to sepsis and pneumonia 8 9 .…”