Mortality and Morbidity Among Preterm Neonates Admitted To Al-Mukalla Maternity and Childhood Hospital, Yemen

Abstract

Globally, preterm birth is a major clinical problem associated with significant mortality and morbidity in the
perinatal, neonatal, and childhood periods and even in adulthood. The study aimed to evaluate the mortality and
morbidity of preterm neonates admitted to Maternity and Childhood Hospital (MCH) in Al-Mukalla. A retrospective
case-control study at a ratio of 1 1 was conducted in the neonatal unit of pediatric ward from October 2012 to
October 2013. The study included records of 104 preterm neonates as cases and equal numbers of full term neonates
as control. The results showed high mortality rate (22.6%) among the neonates. The main causes of death among
cases were respiratory disorders 62.5% and Sepsis 35% while in controls were birth asphyxia 42.9% and congenital
anomalies 42.9%. There were statistically significant association between neonatal mortality rate and body weight
and gestational age of the neonate (p value = 0 .000 and 0.001 respectively). Regarding morbidity, there were
statistically significant association between cases and controls in the following complications: respiratory distress,
apnea, feeding problems, jaundice (p value = 0.016, 0.000, 0.014, 0.020 respectively) As well as (hypoglycemia,
sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding and Birth asphyxia ( (p value = 0.006, 0.000, 0.010 and 0.006 respectively). The
mortality rate was high among preterm infants. We concluded that urgent improvement is needed in prenatal and
neonatal care to reduce death and complications