ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine the rates of neonatal morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care unit of Alexandria University Children's Hospital
Study Design: Hospital records of neonatal admissions at neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] of Alexandria University Children's Hospital [AUCH] from 1st January 2012-31[st] December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Percent neonatal mortality and morbidity were calculated from the record, along with the causes of neonatal morbidity. The data were collected and statistically analyzed
Results: Out of 2063 neonates, 1098 [53.2%] were males while 965 [46.8%] were females with a male to female ratio of 1.3: 1. Majority, 1633 out of 2063 [79.2%], of the neonates was admitted during the 1st day of their life, mean age 2 days. Of total neonates included in the study 635 neonates [30.8%] died during their hospital stay. Significant risk factors [P<0.05] associated with neonatal mortality were: Caesarean delivery, multiple births, maternal infection, neonatal respiratory distress, prematurity, and low birth weight [LBW]. The mortality rate decreased with the increase in birth weight, as well as gestational age. Prematurity, neonatal jaundice, Respiratory distress and sepsis were the most common causes of neonatal morbidities contributing 70.4%, 70%, 65.4% and 48.2% respectively. Overall mortality was 30.8%.Th e three most common causes of neonatal mortalities were Respiratory distress [29.2%], Prematurity [27.8%] and neonatal sepsis [23.1%]
Conclusion: Majority of patients were admitted in the first day of life which indicates that improvement in the prenatal, natal and nursery care as a whole can reduce the neonatal mortality and morbidity in preterm as well as full term neonates