The Pattern and Outcome of Newborn Admissions in Benin City

Abstract

Diseases contributing to poor health outcome of neonates are preventable and reflect the status of child health services in the community. Therefore, the prevailing pattern of diseases in the country needs constant assessment particularly following the implementation of interventions like the provision of more Primary Health Facilities in Nigeria. This study analyzes the demographic data, causes of admissions and deaths in 641 newborn admissions from January 2005 to December 2009, as a pointer to the prevailing causes of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. The leading causes of admissions were LBW (23.3%), Infections (28.5%) and Neonatal Jaundice (16.4%). Thirty seven (5.8%) babies died and the most frequent causes of deaths were Severe Birth Asphyxia (37.8%) and Low birth Weight (27%). The study therefore concludes that the pattern of neonatal admissions and outcome in Nigeria has, remained unchanged in the last decades regardless of various interventions.

Keywords: Neonates, Admissions, Outcome