Prevalence and associated morbidities of preterm neonatal admissions at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Preterm delivery is of considerable concern to clinicians and researchers being a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the industrialized countries and also contributes to substantial complications among survivors. Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria accounts for significant proportion of preterm births, with over million deaths due to complication of prematurity.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated morbidities of preterm deliveries at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective review of neonates delivered before 37 completed weeks of gestation and admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2015.

Results: There were 3435 admissions into the Special Care baby Unit (SCBU) during the 8 year period. Out of these 1129 were preterm babies giving a prevalence of 32.9%. Of the 1129 preterm babies managed in SCBU, 714 case records were retrieved and analyzed giving a retrieval rate of 63%. There were 372 (52.1%) males and 342 (47.9%) females; with the male to female ratio of 1:1.08. There were 17(2.3%) extreme low birth weight (<1000g) (<1000g), 288 (40.3%) very low birth weight (1000-1499 g), 406 (56.9%) low birth weight (1500- 2499 g) babies. The range of admission weights was 700-2500g with mean of 1600±900g. Conclusion: The burden, complications and mortality from preterm newborns remain significant public health challenges to care givers in Nigeria. Key words : Prevalence, preterm babies, associated morbidities, Maiduguri CC –BY Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) defines preterm birth as babies delivered at gestational age of less than 37 completed weeks1 . Preterm delivery is recognized as a major public health problem by both clinicians and researchers because it is the leading cause of infant mortality and also contribute to substantial complications among survivors.1 Each year 15 million newborns are delivered before 37 completed weeks and their chances of survival vary dramatically between developed and developing world.2 Of this high population of preterm babies, Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria, accounts for up to 60%,with over one million deaths due to complications of prematurity.3 According to Lawn et al 4 , Low- and Middle-income countries (LMC) of the world are responsible for 92% of preterm birth and 99% of these preterm babies die. Yet little or no effort has been made in reducing this high mortality rate. The global concern about the burden of preterm birth led the WHO to designate November 7ththe World Prematurity Day.5Reports from some African countries shows that preterm birth rate range from 11.1% to 57%,5, 6, 7 and prevalence of pregnancies that result in spontaneous preterm labour accounting for up to 68.2%.5,8 Infant mortality in Nigeria is very high (79/1000) live> 288 (40.3%) very low birth weight (1000-1499 g), 406 (56.9%) low birth weight (1500- 2499 g) babies. The range of admission weights was 700-2500g with mean of 1600±900g. Conclusion: The burden, complications and mortality from preterm newborns remain significant public health challenges to care givers in Nigeria.

 Keywords : Prevalence, preterm babies, associated morbidities, Maiduguri