Pattern of Diseases and Outcomes of Neonatal Admission in Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria: Pattern of Diseases and Outcomes of Neonatal Admission

The burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality remains a major health challenge, and contributes to deaths among children under the age of five years especially in developing countries. The objective of this study was to report the pattern of diseases and outcomes of neonatal admission over a three-year period. This retrospective study was conducted in the Special Care Baby Unit from January 2013 to December 2015. Data of all the patients admitted to the unit during the study period was analyzed for sex, gestational age, weight, duration of stay, diagnosis on admission, age at admission, outcome and causes of death. A total of 505 patients were admitted during the study period, 310(61.4%) were males and 195(38.6%) were females. There were 374(74.1%) term babies while 111(22.0%) preterm and 20(4.0%) were post term. Low birth weight accounted for 134(30.5%) of all the patients. The commonest cause of neonatal admission was sepsis 40.8%, followed by jaundice 21.0 %, and prematurity 14.1 %. Of the total admissions 86.3% were successfully treated and discharged, 4.2% discharged against medical advice and 9.5 % died. Neonatal deaths were commonly associated with birth asphyxia 31.3 %, followed by neonatal sepsis 27.1% and prematurity 25.0%. Majority (44.6%) of the infants were admitted on the second to seventh day of life. Improving antenatal services, delivery services and neonatal care will help to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.