Hospital Outcome of Preterm Babies at the Regional Hospital Limbe: A 4-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Globally, preterm birth and its complications have become major public health problems as it is a major determinant of neonatal morbidity and mortality with long-term adverse health consequences. It is the leading cause of neonatal and under-5 mortality globally. In Cameroon, especially in the South West Region, there is a paucity of data as concerns preterm birth and its related morbidities and outcome. Objectives: Our objective was to determine the prevalence and hospital outcome of preterm babies at the Regional Hospital Limbe. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study with a retrospective review of files of preterm babies admitted in the neonatology unit from the 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2020. A structured data collection sheet was used to collect information from the files. Information obtained included independent variables (gestational age at birth, gender, birth weight, hospital complications during admission, treatment received and duration of admission) and dependent variables (dead or discharge). Relationship between dependent and independent variables was tested using Pearson Chi-square. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors and independent associations. Result: Preterm admissions constituted 16.5% of the total admissions with a male to female ratio of 1:1.2. The common morbidities were respiratory distress 132(49.1%), hypothermia 72(26.8%), anaemia 70(26.0%), infection 65(24.2%) and jaundice 63(23.4%). The mortality rate was 31.8%. Preterm babies who had congenital malformation (AOR: 25.39;95%CI:1.80-356.38), apnoea (AOR:6.36;95%CI:1.49-27.09), respiratory distress (AOR:6.15;2.75-13.77) and anaemia (AOR:2.19;95%CI:1.07-4.50) were more likely to die compared to those who did not have these morbidities. Also, male preterm babies (AOR:2.72;95%CI:1.35-5.48) were more likely to die than their female counterparts. Conclusion: Preterm babies constituted a significant percentage of neonatal admissions at the Regional Hospital Limbe with the most frequent complications being respiratory distress, hypothermia, anaemia, infection and jaundice. The mortality rate was high, with more preterm babies dying from congenital malformation, apnoea, respiratory distress, and anaemia were strongly associated with mortality.