Neonatal mortality and associated factors in the specialized neonatal care unit Asmara, Eritrea

BackgroundLimited knowledge on the magnitude of neonatal mortality and associated factors is hampering early intervention in African countries.Objective: To determine neonatal mortality and associated factors in the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit Asmara, Eritrea.MethodsMedical records of all neonates admitted to the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit in 2016 were reviewed using a cross-sectional study. The most important causes of admission and mortality were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the strength of risk factors associated with neonatal mortality. Variables significant at P<0.20 level in the univariate analysis were retained in the multivariate model. Model fit was evaluated using Hosmer and Lemeshow test (Chi-square=12.89, df=8; P=0.116), implies the model's estimates fit the data at an acceptable level. Collinearity was assessed using variance inflation factor (VIF) <4. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOf the 1204 (59.9% boys and 40.1% girls) neonates admitted in 2016, 79 (65.6/1000 live births) died. The major causes of admission were sepsis (35.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (15.4%) and perinatal asphyxia (10%). Major causes of death were respiratory distress syndrome (48.1%); extremely low birth weight (40.9%) and very low birth weight (30.5%). After adjustment, low birth weight (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.55, 95% CI,1.97-10.50), very low birth weight (AOR=19.24, 95% CI, 5.80-63.78), late admission (24h after diagnosis) (AOR=2.96, 95% CI, 1.34-6.52), apgar score (in 1min AOR=2.28, 95% CI, 1.09-4.76, in 5min AOR=2.07, 95% CI, 1.02-4.22), and congenital abnormalities (AOR=3.95, 95% CI, 1.59-9.85) were significantly associated with neonatal mortality. Neonates that stayed >24h in the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit (AOR=0.23, 95% CI, 0.11-0.46) had a lower likelihood of death. Overall 95.8% of mothers of neonates attended antenatal care and 96.6% were facility delivered. None of the maternal conditions were associated with neonatal mortality in this study.ConclusionsLow birth weight, late admission, low apgar scores and congenital abnormalities were significantly associated with neonatal mortality in the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit. Early management of low birth weight, preterm births, and neonatal complications should be the priority issues for controlling local neonatal deaths.