Abstract:
Background: Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) remains
high in Nigeria. There is the need to know the major
causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, so as to
reduce the trend.
Aim: To determine the causes of neonatal morbidity and
mortality in the neonatology unit of Bingham University
teaching Hospital (BHUTH), Jos.
Method: This is a retrospective, analytical descriptive
hospital-based study carried out in the special care baby
unit of BHUTH from January- December 2018.
Results: A total of 324 neonates were enrolled in the
study. The ratio of male (189) to female (135) neonates
was 1:0.7. There were more babies in the out born (168)
than inborn (156). Major causes of morbidity were
prematurity (29.3%), Neonatal jaundice (NNJ),
(21.9%),
Neonatal sepsis (NS), (12.3%), birth asphyxia (BA),
(11.4%) and NNS+NNJ (9.9%). The three main causes
of mortality were prematurity (59.1%), severe birth
asphyxia (SBA) (27.3%) and NS (13.6%). The
difference in mortality due to prematurity was
statistically significant between the inborn and out born,
(χ2 =9.08, p=0.001), but that due to severe birth
asphyxia was not statistically significant (χ2 =1.44,
p=0.230). Case fatality rate for severe birth asphyxia
(SBA) was 32.4%, prematurity 27.4%, and NS 15.0%.
Out of 324, 259 (80%) were discharged, 44 (14%) died,
17 (5%) were discharged against medical advice
(DAMA) and 4 (1%) were referred.
Conclusion: Prematurity, NNJ and NS were the leading
causes of morbidity, while SBA, prematurity and NS
were the main causes of mortality in this study
