SURVIVAL OF VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES FOR AGE 0-7 DAYS AMONG DELIVERIES IN SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE (SPHMMC), ONE YEAR CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Very low birth weight babies are neonates with birth weights of 1000-1499g, constituting approximately 4–7% of all live births. Very low birth weight infants are known to have high morbidity and mortality.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the early neonatal survival rate and to determine the prognostic indicators for the survival of very low birth weight neonates delivered at St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC).
METHOD: All neonates delivered from January 1- December 31, 2016 were consecutively included in the study. A total of 161 very low birth weight infants were included in the study. Newborns were followed for the first seven days of life, or time of discharge, or time of death as confirmed by the managing physician. The first of these was considered during the last data collection. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20. The mean, 95% confidence intervals and two-tailed P values were calculated.
RESULTS: Very low birth weight infants account for 2.7% of all deliveries in this study. Early neonatal survival was found to be 77%. Gestational age, birth weight and APGAR score were found to be associated with survival rate with p-value of <0.05. Maternal obstetrics complication, antenatal use of corticosteroid, and management in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were not found to be associated with neonatal outcome.
Key Words: Very Low Birth Weight, preterm birth, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
(Ethiopian Journal of Reproductive Health 2018; 10; 2: 11-21)