Neonatal mortality in a district hospital setup

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the causes and risk factors of neonatal mortality, in a non-tertiary district hospital nursery. Descriptive study. This study was carried out in the Neonatal Unit of Social Security Hospital Muzuffar Garh, Pakistan from 1st May 2004 to 30th April 2005. All newborns admitted in the nursery during study period were counted and the expired ones were evaluated in detail for the cause of death. A total of 410 neonates were admitted during study period, 53.65% were male and 46.35 females. 47.22% were admitted within 1st 24 hours of their life, and 61.66% within 72 hours of birth. 56.66% of the expired neonates were low birth weight. Neonatal sepsis being the commonest cause of death [44%], 35% being of EOS and 65% cases of LOS. 2"d commonest cause of neonatal death was birth asphyxia [22%] and the third commonest cause was prematurity [19%] with its complications. Other causes of neonatal mortality were neonatal jau ndice [2.77%], meconium aspiration syndrome [1.66%], hyaline membrane disease [6.66%], neural tube defects [1.11%] and congenital heart disease [1.66%]. Many babies had more than one of the above said causes. Neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia and prematurity are the major killers in nurseries