Neonatal Tetanus In Calabar: A 4-year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Summary:All cases of neonatal tetanus admitted into the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar during the period of four years (January 1983 to December 1986) were retrospectively studied. There were 606 cases which represents 31% of the 1940 outborn infants admitted during the period. The mortality rate was 51%, and it accounted for 71% of deaths among outborn neonates during the period. A majority (99%) of the mothers were delivered at home by Traditional Birth Attendants and were derived from Calabar municipality and the surrounding areas. The high prevalence of neonatal tetanus in our environment casts doubts on the effectiveness of the on-going immunization campaign. There is a dire need to review the strategies of the existing antenatal care/immunization processes with greater em phasis on out-reach rather than hospital immunization posts. Traditional midwives require unabated scrutiny and education and should perhaps be allowed to administer tetanus toxoid since their role is over-whelming and unavoidable in our community.