OUTCOME OF OUTBORN PRETERM ADMISSIONS AT THE LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (LASUTH) OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD.

Abstract

Introduction: Nigeria has a large proportion of
young population including children and a high
under- five mortality rate of which newborn
death constitute a third. Neonatal mortality has
had increasing attention because of the
significant role and opportunities there are in
lowering the unfortunate and unacceptable
child mortality in the country. A third of neonatal
death in Nigeria is attributable to preterm birth.
Identifying the morbidity and mortality patterns
of preterm admissions will help in the task of
reducing preterm death and positively affect
under-five mortality.
Aim: To determine the preterm admission rate
at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
(LASUTH) and assess the morbidity and
mortality patterns with a view to identifying
opportunities for improved outcome.
Methods: A retrospective review of admission
records and case notes of preterm neonates
admitted at LASUTH from October 2015 to
September 2016 was undertaken. Data was
entered and analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: There were 544 neonatal admissions
during the period under review. One hundred
and three of these were preterm giving a
preterm admission rate of 18.9%. The
commonest morbidities were neonatal sepsis,
neonatal jaundice, respiratory distress
syndrome, anaemia and necrotizing
enterocolitis. The preterm mortality rate was
26.2%. The commonest cause of death was
neonatal sepsis.
Conclusion: Preterm birth is associated with a
high morbidity and mortality. There is need to
scale-up established simple interventions to
prevent preterm birth and mortality and also
provide more personnel and facilities for
optimal care and thus improve outcome.