Predicting factors of length of stay at a neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this research was to determine the factors that influence the length of stay in the NICU of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra.
Methodology: This was a retrospective study involving 249 preterm infants who were admitted and discharged from the NICU, KBTH from November 2021 to October 2022. The multivariable negative binomial regression model was used to assess the factors associated with the number of hospital days among the newborns.
Results: The median number of days stayed in the NICU was 12 days (IQR: 8-21).
Predictor of shorter length of stay in the NICU was preterm infants with birthweight between 1500-2499g (aβ: -0.39, 95% CI: [-0.54, -0.24], p<0.001). Predictors of prolonged length of stay in the NICU were late initiation of breastmilk feeding (aβ: 0.31, 95% CI: [0.01, 0.60], p=0.040), preterm infants with neonatal jaundice (aβ: 0.15, 95% CI: [0.02, 0.28], p=0.023), neonatal sepsis (aβ: 0.44, 95% CI: [0.30, 0.57], p<0.001), and necrotising enterocolitis (aβ: 0.37, 95% CI: [0.16, 0.58], p<0.001).
Conclusion: Preterm infants who initiated breastmilk feeding late, developed neonatal sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis and neonatal jaundice were more likely to stay longer at the NICU. While those with birth weight between 1500-2499grams were likely to stay for a shorter period.