LEVELS, TRENDS AND RISK FOR EARLY NEONATAL MORTALITY AT MUHIMBILI NATIONAL HOSPITAL, TANZANIA, 1999 - 2005

Objective: To determine the magnitude, trend and to assess risk factors for early neonatal mortality in one of the referral hospitals in Tanzania Methods: We used logistic regression analyses with data from the Maternity Unit of Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania, adjusting for possible confounding factors. Results: We found early neonatal mortality rate of 20 per 1000 live births (95%CI, 19/1000 - 21/1000). Results indicated the reduced risk of 0.8 (95% CI, 0.7 - 0.9) per 10 years increase of maternal age at delivery. We also found a reduced risk of neonatal mortality by increase in birth weight of the infant (OR = 0.87: 95%CI, 0.87-0.88 per 100 grams increase). Male born babies were found to have an elevated risk (OR = 1.4, 95%CI, 1.3 - 1.5) of early neonatal mortality as compared to females and the risk of neonatal mortality among offspring of women who have history of neonatal death was 1.9 times (95%CI, 1.1 - 3.1) as compared to those without a history of neonatal death. Conclusions: Hospital-based data understate the magnitude of early neonatal mortality but maternal age and history of previous neonatal death should be used as markers for such undesired birth outcome