Antitetanus toxoid antibodies in mothers and neonates: a single-centre study from Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality due to tetanus persists in Uganda despite the mandatory vaccination of pregnant mothers. Maternal antibodies wane within a year. Uganda's maternal vaccination guidelines do not specify the timing or frequency of tetanus shots, contributing to suboptimal transfer of tetanus antibodies to neonates. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with protective tetanus antibodies among newborns at Kawempe National Referral Hospital. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 293 mother-newborn pairs. At delivery, neonatal cord and maternal venous blood were collected and titred for antitetanus antibodies using a quantitative ELISA kit. The primary outcome of the study was the proportion of newborn babies with tetanus antibodies ≥0.1 IU/mL. Associated factors were determined using generalised linear models for the Poisson family with a log link and robust variance estimation. RESULTS: A total of 258/293 (88.1%) newborns had protective antibody titres. Factors associated with adequate protective antibodies in the newborn included: high (≥0.1 IU/mL) maternal antibody titres, first antenatal visit ≥12 weeks of gestation and receiving a tetanus toxoid (TT) shot ≥28 weeks of gestation. However, number of doses received before current pregnancy was not associated with adequate protective antibody titres. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of adequate protective levels of antibodies among TT-vaccinated mothers. Maternal titres and a third trimester TT dose correlate with adequate levels of protective anti-TT antibodies among newborns. A third trimester TT dose is recommended.

Umbilical artery lactate levels and associated maternal and newborn characteristics at Mulago National Referral Hospital: a cross-sectional observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the maternal and newborn characteristics associated with high umbilical artery lactate levels at Mulago National Referral Hospital. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a national referral hospital located in the capital of Uganda, Kampala. PARTICIPANTS: We randomly selected 720 pregnant mothers at term who presented in labour and their newborn babies. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Umbilical artery lactate level. RESULTS: During the study, there were 579 vaginal deliveries (18 instrumental) and 141 caesarean sections which met the inclusion criteria. One hundred and eighty-seven neonates (187) had high arterial lactate levels. The following factors were associated with an increased likelihood of high lactate concentration: male sex (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.71; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.54; p<0.05), primigravidity (aOR=2.78; 95% CI 1.89 to 4.08; p<0.001), meconium-stained liquor (aOR=5.85; 95% CI 4.08 to 8.47; p<0.001) and administration of oxytocin (aOR=1.97; 95% CI 1.00 to 3.77; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: About a fifth of the babies born in Mulago National Referral Hospital during the study period had high umbilical artery lactate. The maternal-fetal factors significantly associated with high umbilical artery lactate levels included: baby's sex, mother's gravidity, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and oxytocin administration during labour.

Incidence and risk factors for early neonatal mortality in newborns with severe perinatal morbidity in Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors for early neonatal death among newborns with severe perinatal morbidity. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed of 341 newborns with severe perinatal morbidity admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Mulago Hospital, Uganda. All newborns were followed up for 7 days or until time of death. Information surrounding the mother's obstetric history and pregnancy, the birth, and the neonatal history was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and by review of relevant records. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors independently associated with early neonatal death. RESULTS: A total of 37 (10.9%) neonates died within 7 days, giving an incidence of early neonatal death of 109 deaths per 1000 live births (3 per 100 person-days). In multivariate analysis, respiratory distress (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 31.29; 95% CI, 4.17-234.20; P=0.001) and inadequate fetal heart monitoring during labor (aRR 6.0; 95% CI 1.40-25.67; P=0.016) were significantly associated with an increased risk of early neonatal death. CONCLUSION: Approximately one in 10 neonates with severe perinatal morbidity died within 7 days of birth. Respiratory distress and poor monitoring of labor were risk factors for early neonatal death.