A Review of Neonatal Admissions in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria.

A retrospective analysis of the records of all neonatal admissions into the Special Baby care unit (SCBU) of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo between January 2006 and December 2007 was undertaken. There were 605 admissions (371 males and 234 females) with 308 (50.9%) being admitted in 2006 and 297 (49.1%) in 2007. Admission weights ranged between 0.65kg and 5.20kg with the mean weight of 2.72 ± 0.76kg. There were 317 (52.5%) inborns and 288 (47.5%) outborns. Primary indications for admission were low birth weight in 228 (47.7%), birth asphyxia in 197 (32.5%), neonatal septicaemia -154 (25.4%), neonatal jaundice 72 (11.9%) and respiratory distress in 56 (9.2%). One hundred and ten (18.2%) of the 605 babies died. Of the 110 babies who died, 80 (72.7%) were outborn while 30 (27.3%) were inborn. The pattern of the causes of death mirrors that of admissions. The main causes of admissions and deaths are preventable. The mortality of 18.2% is unacceptably high. Sick babies who had been delivered outside the teaching hospitals stood a triple chance of dying compared with those born in the teaching hospitals. To improve and work towards achieving MDG4,a much better commitment of government to maternal and child health is needed.Keywords: Neonatal admissions, morbidity, mortality, Nigeri