Factors Associated with Neonatal Mortality among Newborns Admitted in the Special Care Baby Unit of a Nigerian Hospital

Abstract

Background: With Nigeria being one of the countries with the highest neonatal mortality rate globally, identifying the risk factors associated with neonatal mortality is essential as we strive to proffer sustainable solutions.

Aim: This retrospective hospital-based survey aimed to bridge this gap by evaluating the trends and risk factors associated with neonatal mortality in a teaching hospital in Southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: Records of newborns admitted at the special care baby unit from January 2018 to December 2019 (n = 1098) were accessed, and available data were extracted. Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics were performed at 0.05 level of significance.

Results: The mortality rate was determined to be 16.9% (inborn babies- 12.9% and out-born babies- 22.3%), with 83.3% of the newborns dying within the first week. Some of the factors associated with neonatal mortality were proximity of newborns' mothers home to the hospital [p = 0.041; Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.670; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.455-0.985], maturity of the baby at delivery (p < 0.001; OR = 0.514; CI = 0.358-0.738), place of delivery-inborn or out-born (p < 0.001; OR = 0.515; CI = 0.375-0.709), place of delivery-in a hospital or a non-hospital setting (p = 0.048; OR = 0.633; CI = 0.401-0.999), and baby's weight (p < 0.001; CI = -0.684 to -0.411).

Conclusion: Findings from the study indicate that newborns delivered at home, traditional birth attendant centres or hospitals without essential healthcare facilities have a higher mortality risk. This suggests that measures to improve the accessibility of pregnant women to essential healthcare services are a prerequisite to reducing the neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria.

Keywords: Ekiti; Nigeria; hospital; neonatal morbidity; neonatal mortality.