The survival of preterm infants depends on the health development level of each country and those who survive need a closer follow-up after the discharge. The objective of this study was to evaluate morbidity, mortality and post-natal growth of preterm infants in the first six-month of life in a low income country. This was a longitudinal study from May 2015 to June 2016 in the pediatrics department of the Mother and Child Teaching Hospital of N’Djamena. It involved all preterm infants hospitalized during six months of inclusion period and followed in this structure. The morbidity rate was 26.9% in the first month of follow-up. The more frequent pathologies were acute respiratory infections (37%), functional digestive troubles (33%) followed by anemia and malaria (15%). Eight infants (11.9%) had been hospitalized again with 3 deaths recorded (4.5%). The growth was regular but the measures were mostly less than -2 Z score. Average weight was 6165.6 g at 6 months; average height: 60.72 cm and average head circumference: 41.62 cm. Adjustment of cranial circumference was earliest with 53 and 87% of normal value at 3 and 6 months respectively. The improvement of care of preterm infants would need the development of perinatalogy and follow-up network.

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Introduction: Hypotrophy is a public health problem in developing countries. Its etiology is multifactorial and it may be associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary profile of hypotrophic newborns at term. Methodology: this was a prospective, descriptive and analytical study conducted in the neonatology department of the MCUH of N'Djamena from 01/06/2018 to 31/05/2019. It involved 109 hypotrophic newborns at term hospitalized. Results: The frequency of hypotrophy was 7.8%, the risk factors were: housewife status (81.7%), low level of education (67%), poor pregnancy follow-up (59.7%), malaria (40.4%), urogenital infections (22%) and anemia (22%) during pregnancy. Hypotrophy was harmonious in 58.7% of cases, the sex ratio was 1.14 and visible congenital malformations were observed in 12.7% of cases. The main reasons for hospitalization were neonatal infections (64.2%), perinatal asphyxia (14.7%) and hypothermia (11.9%). Lethality was 16.5% and associated with multiparity, poor pregnancy follow-up, vaginal delivery, home delivery, pathological Apgar score, notion of resuscitation, existence of malformation, respiratory distress and perinatal asphyxia. Conclusion: Better monitoring of pregnancy, use of family planning by couples, delivery in an institutionalized setting, and reinforcement of the technical platform of the neonatology department will reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality related to hypotrophy.

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