Abstract:
Background: Although prematurity was the leading cause of neonatal mortality, the survival rate and its predictors may be varied from setting to setting and time to time. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the survival probability and predictors of mortality among preterm neonates at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital.
Methods: This is a retrospective follow-up study that included 542 randomly selected preterm neonates admitted at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital from the period of 2016-2020. Semi-parametric and parametric survival models were fitted to identify the survival probability of preterm neonates and its association with different predictors. The best fit model was selected using Akaike’s information criteria, Bayesian information criteria and likelihood ratio criteria.
Results: The cumulative incidence and incidence rate of mortality among preterm neonates were 31 per 100 live births and 3.5 per 100 neonate days, respectively. Predictors with higher preterm mortality risk include the presence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome [AHR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.23; 3.74], perinatal asphyxia [AHR=4.26, 95% CI: 1.35; 6.79] and jaundice [AHR=3.25, 95% CI: 2.14, 7.24]. However, admission weight of 1500g–2499g (AHR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.56) and ≥2500g (AHR=0.12, 95% CI: 0.02; 0.32), early breastfeeding [AHR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.36; 0.48] and kangaroo mother care [AHR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0 .03; 0.15] were protective factors of preterm mortality.
Conclusion: The cumulative incidence of mortality among preterm neonates was consistent with the national incidence of preterm mortality. Factors such as respiratory distress syndrome, perinatal asphyxia, breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care, admission weight, and jaundice are significant predictors of survival. Therefore, considerable attention such as intensive phototherapy, optimal calorie feeding, oxygenation, and good thermal care should be given for admitted preterm neonates.
Keywords: Ethiopia, Predictors, Preterm, Neonates, Survival
What will audience learn from your presentation?
- It will help policy maker, educators, national and international health office for planning national health strategies, policies and interventions on child health, well-being, and sustain child survival public health interventions.
- The finding of this study will serve as an additional input to track child survival goals during the Sustainable Development Goal.
- It will help as additional information for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) working on a neonatal area to improve or strengthen in the prevention of preterm birth and reduction of preterm neonatal death.
- Furthermore, it will be used as additional data for future studies that would be conducted in this area.
