Main Article Content
Analysis and Outcome of Admissions in the Special Care Baby Unit of the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
Abstract
Aim: To audit the services of the neonatal Unit since its inception and determine the causes of morbidity and mortality among the neonates.
Methods: This was a retrospective study. Case notes of all babies admitted into the neonatal Unit for the three-year study period were retrieved from the medical records department of the hospital and reviewed. The data reviewed included sex, gestational age, and mode of delivery, birth weight, in-born and out-born, maternal booking status and associated factors, indications for admission, diagnosis and outcome.
Results: A total of 536 neonates made up of 425 in-borns (79.3%) and 111 out-borns (20.7%) was admitted into the Unit, 186 (34.7%) were of low birth weight (LBW) and 139 (25.9%) preterms. There was an increase in the yearly admissions from 63 to 367. Major indications for admission included septicaemia (26.9%), prematurity and LBW (22.9%), birth asphyxia (20.9%), unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia (11.4%), neonatal malaria (4.1%) and congenital malformation (3.2%). Two hundred and thirty-nine of the 536 babies (44.6%) were babies born to un-booked mothers. There were 80 deaths, giving an overall mortality of 14.9%. LBW contributed to 55.0% of the overall mortality. Others were birth asphyxia (18.7%), septicaemia (11.2%) and congenital malformation (7.5%). A total of 45/80 (56.3%) of the mortality cases was in-born but 58/80 (72.5%) of the deaths was delivered to un-booked mothers.
Conclusion: Preventable conditions are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in our centre. Identifiable causes included lack of antenatal care, low standard of available services and lack of essential equipment like ventilators and overcrowding in the unit. Measures that are needed to improve the care of newborns are highlighted.
Key Words: newborn, neonatal admissions, morbidity, mortality, hospital-based, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Journal of College of Medicine 2005: 9(2): 93-96
Methods: This was a retrospective study. Case notes of all babies admitted into the neonatal Unit for the three-year study period were retrieved from the medical records department of the hospital and reviewed. The data reviewed included sex, gestational age, and mode of delivery, birth weight, in-born and out-born, maternal booking status and associated factors, indications for admission, diagnosis and outcome.
Results: A total of 536 neonates made up of 425 in-borns (79.3%) and 111 out-borns (20.7%) was admitted into the Unit, 186 (34.7%) were of low birth weight (LBW) and 139 (25.9%) preterms. There was an increase in the yearly admissions from 63 to 367. Major indications for admission included septicaemia (26.9%), prematurity and LBW (22.9%), birth asphyxia (20.9%), unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia (11.4%), neonatal malaria (4.1%) and congenital malformation (3.2%). Two hundred and thirty-nine of the 536 babies (44.6%) were babies born to un-booked mothers. There were 80 deaths, giving an overall mortality of 14.9%. LBW contributed to 55.0% of the overall mortality. Others were birth asphyxia (18.7%), septicaemia (11.2%) and congenital malformation (7.5%). A total of 45/80 (56.3%) of the mortality cases was in-born but 58/80 (72.5%) of the deaths was delivered to un-booked mothers.
Conclusion: Preventable conditions are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in our centre. Identifiable causes included lack of antenatal care, low standard of available services and lack of essential equipment like ventilators and overcrowding in the unit. Measures that are needed to improve the care of newborns are highlighted.
Key Words: newborn, neonatal admissions, morbidity, mortality, hospital-based, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Journal of College of Medicine 2005: 9(2): 93-96
