Neonatal mortality in a teaching hospital, North Western Ethiopia

To generate base-line data on neonatal mortality in Gondar College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital before the establishment of a neonatal unit in order to assess its impact in reducing neonatal mortality.

A retrospective record review was conducted in the Paediatrics Ward of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences. The review included all records of neonates admitted to the Pediatrics Ward from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1999.

Paediatrics Ward of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital.

A total of 330 neonates were admitted during the given period.

Data was analyzed for 304 neonates whose records were complete. Out of these 141 (44.4%) were discharged having improved; 126 (41.4%) died and the rest, 37 (12.2%), were discharged against medical advice or disappeared. Sepsis was diagnosed clinically in 228 (75%) neonates, while pneumonia was the diagnosis in 84 (28%) of the neonates. The highest case related mortality was seen in hyaline membrane disease where 10 out of 11 (91%) neonates died. The next highest case related mortality was seen in very low birth weight as 24 out of 30 (80%) neonates died.

The neonatal mortality seen in this study is unacceptably high. In this regard, it has drawn the attention of the college and hospital management of the need to open a neonatal care unit to improve the quality of neonatal care. Another study has to be done after about five years to assess the impact of the new Neonatal Care unit in reducing neonatal mortality in the Gondar College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital. The result of this study, though facility based, would give an important indication of the magnitude of the problem of neonatal mortality in the country. The global community is committed to addressing the health of the newborn together with maternal and child health by merging the global Safe Motherhood and Healthy Newborn, Saving Newborn Lives and Child Survival Partnerships into one Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Partnership (MNCHP).