Prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia and risk factors in the newborn unit at a tertiary care hospital in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Neonatal hypoglycemia is a prevalent neonatal disorder associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence varies with definition and the proportion of at-risk neonates in a population. The burden and risk factors in most Kenyan hospitals are unknown.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia and its risk factors in Gatundu Level V Hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study; data were collected retrospectively by sampling the patient records. Systematic random sampling was used to select participant files who had been admitted to the newborn unit (NBU). We defined hypoglycemia as a blood glucose of < 2.6mmol/l. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Results: The prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia was 16.8% (39 neonates) admitted to the Newborn Unit. The prevalence of hypoglycemia in maternal risk factors were; infants born to diabetic mothers (3/6,50%), pre-eclampsia (3/9,33.3%), and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (2/9,18.2%). The prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia in children with neonatal risk factors included; prematurity (10/39,25.6%), respiratory distress (7/39,17.9%), macrosomia (9/39,23.7%%), neonatal sepsis (12/39,30.7%), low birth weight (11/39,28.2%) and large for gestational age (9/39,23.7%)

Conclusion: Routine screening and blood glucose monitoring are recommended for all high-risk neonates and not necessarily in the NBU.