Determinants of Mortality in Preterm Newborns Admitted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Findings from a Tertiary Level Maternity Hospital in Nepal

Authors

  • Shailendra Bir Karmacharya Department of Paediatrics, Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Maternity Hospital Road, Thapathali, Kathmandu - 44600, Nepal
  • Kalpana Upadhyaya Subedi Department of Paediatrics, Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Maternity Hospital Road, Thapathali, Kathmandu - 44600, Nepal
  • Sumit Agrawal Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu – 44600, Nepal
  • Noora Pradhan Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, BP Highway, Panauti – 45209, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal
  • Ritesh Barnwal Department of Paediatrics, Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Maternity Hospital Road, Thapathali, Kathmandu - 44600, Nepal
  • Prajwal Paudel 1Department of Paediatrics, Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Maternity Hospital Road, Thapathali, Kathmandu - 44600, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v42i1.39957

Keywords:

Mortality, NICU, Preterm

Abstract

Introduction: Prematurity is a major cause of admission in the NICU in most hospitals. Premature babies are likely to face complications. Understanding the factors contributing to preterm mortality is needed to identify interventions required to reduce neonatal mortality rate. This study aims to determine the causes of mortality in preterm babies.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal. All the preterm babies admitted in the sick newborn units were included. Descriptive statistics were performed using frequency and percentage. The bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the causes of mortality in preterm.

Results: Total 205 (71.4%) admitted preterm babies had complications at the time of admission. LBW babies were three times more likely to have mortality among preterm admission (p – value < 0.0001). Co-morbidities such as sepsis (p - value < 0.05) and perinatal asphyxia (p – value < 0.0001) were significantly associated with preterm mortality. The duration of stay among preterm babies was higher compared to term babies. The mortality rate was higher among preterm admission compared to term admission (60% vs 40%).

Conclusions: Preterm babies with LBW, neonatal sepsis and perinatal asphyxia are at greater risk of mortality. Improved antenatal and perinatal care, quality newborn care and appropriate infection prevention measures can help reduce preterm birth, prematurity related complications and mortality among these vulnerable group of newborns.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
70
PDF
105

Downloads

Published

2022-11-27

How to Cite

Karmacharya, S. B. ., Upadhyaya Subedi, K. ., Agrawal, S., Pradhan, N. ., Barnwal, R., & Paudel, P. (2022). Determinants of Mortality in Preterm Newborns Admitted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Findings from a Tertiary Level Maternity Hospital in Nepal. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 42(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v42i1.39957

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Shailendra Bir Karmacharya, Kalpana Upadhyaya Subedi, Sumit Agrawal, Noora Pradhan, Ritesh Barnwal, Prajwal Paudel

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).