Preterm Neonatal Mortality and Its Determinants at a Tertiary Hospital in Western Uganda: A Prospective Cohort Study

• Published in: Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics medicine and therapeutics, 2020-01, Vol.11, p.409-420
• Main Authors: Egesa, Walufu Ivan, Odong, Richard Justin, Kalubi, Peters, Ortiz Yamile, Enedina Arias, Atwine, Daniel, Turyasiima, Munanura, Kiconco, Gloria, Maren, Melvis Bernis, Nduwimana, Martin, Ssebuufu, Robinson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apgar score; Birth weight; Blood transfusions; cohort; Cohort analysis; Data collection; Gestational age; Hospitals; Hypoglycemia; Infant mortality; Mortality; Mothers; neonatal intensive care unit; Newborn babies; Original Research; Premature babies; Premature birth; Prenatal care; preterm neonate; Questionnaires; Respiratory distress syndrome; Statistical analysis; Variables
• ISSN: 1179-9927; 1179-9927
• DOI: 10.2147/PHMT.S266675

Prematurity contributes greatly to the neonatal mortality burden in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the proportion of preterm neonatal death, medical conditions at admission, and determinants of mortality of preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary hospital in Western Uganda. A prospective cohort study of 351 consecutively enrolled preterm neonates was conducted from March to June 2019. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and physical assessment of neonates were used to obtain socio-demographic and clinical data for mothers and their preterm neonates. Descriptive statistics for participants' characteristics were generated, while bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted so as to establish the determinants of mortality outcome. A p-value 4 ANC visits (AOR: 5.3; 95% CI: 1.88-15.21), neonatal resuscitation (AOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.66-6.82), outborn status (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.20-4.50), singleton pregnancy (AOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.74-7.89),