Burden of disease and risk factors for mortality amongst hospitalized newborns in Nigeria and Kenya



Nabwera, Helen M, Wang, Dingmei, Tongo, Olukemi O, Andang'o, Pauline EA, Abdulkadir, Isa, Ezeaka, Chinyere V, Ezenwa, Beatrice N, Fajolu, Iretiola B, Imam, Zainab O, Mwangome, Martha K
et al (show 8 more authors) (2021) Burden of disease and risk factors for mortality amongst hospitalized newborns in Nigeria and Kenya. PLOS ONE, 16 (1). e0244109-.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>To describe the patient population, priority diseases and outcomes in newborns admitted <48 hours old to neonatal units in both Kenya and Nigeria.<h4>Study design</h4>In a network of seven secondary and tertiary level neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya, we captured anonymised data on all admissions <48 hours of age over a 6-month period.<h4>Results</h4>2280 newborns were admitted. Mean birthweight was 2.3 kg (SD 0.9); 57.0% (1214/2128) infants were low birthweight (LBW; <2.5kg) and 22.6% (480/2128) were very LBW (VLBW; <1.5 kg). Median gestation was 36 weeks (interquartile range 32, 39) and 21.6% (483/2236) infants were very preterm (gestation <32 weeks). The most common morbidities were jaundice (987/2262, 43.6%), suspected sepsis (955/2280, 41.9%), respiratory conditions (817/2280, 35.8%) and birth asphyxia (547/2280, 24.0%). 18.7% (423/2262) newborns died; mortality was very high amongst VLBW (222/472, 47%) and very preterm infants (197/483, 40.8%). Factors independently associated with mortality were gestation <28 weeks (adjusted odds ratio 11.58; 95% confidence interval 4.73-28.39), VLBW (6.92; 4.06-11.79), congenital anomaly (4.93; 2.42-10.05), abdominal condition (2.86; 1.40-5.83), birth asphyxia (2.44; 1.52-3.92), respiratory condition (1.46; 1.08-2.28) and maternal antibiotics within 24 hours before or after birth (1.91; 1.28-2.85). Mortality was reduced if mothers received a partial (0.51; 0.28-0.93) or full treatment course (0.44; 0.21-0.92) of dexamethasone before preterm delivery.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Greater efforts are needed to address the very high burden of illnesses and mortality in hospitalized newborns in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions need to address priority issues during pregnancy and delivery as well as in the newborn.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Neonatal Nutrition Network (NeoNuNet), Humans, Sepsis, Asphyxia Neonatorum, Jaundice, Birth Weight, Hospitalization, Infant Mortality, Risk Factors, Gestational Age, Cost of Illness, Adolescent, Adult, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Kenya, Nigeria, Female, Male, Young Adult
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 04 May 2022 09:58
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 21:04
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244109
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244109
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3154272