Morbidity profile of admitted neonates and their outcome in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of urban Allahabad

Abstract

Background: India faces a daunting challenge of newborn survival. Four out of five newborn deaths result from three treatable conditions: complications during childbirth (including birth asphyxia), newborn infections, and complications from prematurity. The facility-based research is lagging behind. This study was conducted to assess the morbidity profile of the admitted neonates & their outcome in government & private neonatal intensive care units of urban Allahabad. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Government and Private settings of urban Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh during the year 2015-2016. This was a time-bound study. All the sick neonates admitted during the study period at SNCH and private NICU of urban Allahabad were included in the study. There were 1,442 neonates who were admitted in both the government and the private newborn care units during the study period. Out of these, only 1,409 neonates were included in the study. Results: In the Government sector, Neonatal sepsis accounted for the maximum number of admission, 26.69% followed by Prematurity 22.17%, Birth Asphyxia 13.54%, Neonatal Jaundice 13.01%, RDS 12.48% and MAS 4.51%. In contrast to this, Prematurity 135 (20.57%) caused maximum number of admissions in the Private sector. The outcome was the best for RDS in government while neonatal jaundice in private sector. Conclusion: The maximum admission in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of urban Allahabad was caused because of Prematurity followed by Neonatal Sepsis. Introduction Survival of a newborn during the first week of life is determined by the stresses of intrauterine life and birth process as well as by the adjustment to a new environment, nutrition and infection. Therefore, the early neonatal period (birth to 7 days of life) is the most critical period of life [1]. Almost half of Under-5 deaths occur in infancy. Of the infant deaths, about two third occur in neonatal period. One third of all neonatal deaths occur on the first day of life, almost half within three days and nearly three quarters within the first week of life [2]. Out of 130 million neonates born each year globally, 4 million die in first four week with more than 10,000 deaths a day of which virtually all deaths nearly 99% occur in low and middle income countries like South East Asia and Africa [3]. Major causes of neonatal death are pre-term birth (27%), sepsis (26%), birth asphyxia (23%) along with some others like tet…