RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Survival status and predictors of mortality among preterm neonates admitted in Bench Sheko Zone, Sheka Zone and Keffa Zone Governmental Hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia (2021): prospective follow-up study
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e083897
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-083897
VO 14
IS 4
A1 Mihretu, Esmelealem
A1 Genie, Yalemtsehay Dagnaw
A1 Adugnaw, Emebet
A1 Shibabaw, Aster Tadesse
YR 2024
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/4/e083897.abstract
AB Introduction Prematurity presents a significant challenge to the global community due to the rapid increase in its incidence and its disproportionate contribution to increased infant mortality rates.Objective To assess the survival status and predictors of mortality among preterm neonates.Design A multicentre prospective follow-up study was used.Setting 625 preterm neonates were admitted to hospitals for secondary level of care. The study covers the Bench Maji Zone, Keffa Zone, Sheka Zone, nearby woredas and portions of the Gambella area in Southwest Ethiopia.Participants 614 preterm neonates with gestational age less than 37 weeks were entered for follow-up and 400 neonates were censored. Neonates with severe fetal malformations and neonates who need urgent referral were excluded from the study.Results Overall, 200 (32.57%) participants died with an incidence rate of 61.69 deaths per 1000 person-day observations (95% CI: 53.71 to 70.86). Poor kangaroo mother care (KMC) services (adjusted HR (AHR)=0.19, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.29), sex (AHR=0.66, 95%, CI: 0.47 to 0.94), not initiating breast feeding (HR=2.78, 95% CI: 1.8 to 4.28), hypothermia (AHR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.92), anaemia (AHR=6.2, 95% CI: 2.34 to 16.43) and gestational age less than 28 weeks (AHR=9.28, 95% CI: 1.78 to 48.42) were independent predictors.Conclusion and recommendation The rate of preterm neonatal mortality was high compared with the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey report nationally. Healthcare workers should encourage KMC services and breastfeeding initiation and prevent preterm neonates from being anaemic to increase their chances of survival.Data are available upon reasonable request. all data are incorporated within the manuscript