Incidence of mortality and its predictors among preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia. A retrospective follow-up study.
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Background Preterm birth, or delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is a significant global health problem, especially in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. Preterm infants have a higher risk of mortality despite advances in neonatal care. This study was aimed to assess the incidence of mortality and its predictors among preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Adama Hospital Medical College in Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 579 preterm neonates from the identified list of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Adama Hospital Medical College from January 1, 2021 to December 30, 2023 selected using simple random sampling. Data were checked, cleaned and entered into Epi-info software version 7.2.6.0, and then it was exported to STATA version 17.0 statistical software for analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves and Log-rank test was used to estimate and compare time to death over time. Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted to identify predictors of mortality. A p-value of < 0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance of the association. Results The study found a mortality rate of 26.3% (95% CI: 22.8, 29.9) and the overall incidence rate was 33.5 deaths per 1000 preterm neonate-days of observation. Maternal medical problems (AHR = 3.1 [95% CI: 1.6, 6.1]), Respiratory distress syndrome (AHR = 2.2 [95% CI:1.5, 3.2]), Perinatal asphyxia (AHR = 2.8 [95% CI 1.1, 7.0]), 5th minute Apgar score less than seven (AHR = 5.4 [95% CI: 3.5, 8.2]) were identified as the predictors of mortality among preterm. Conclusion The incidence of preterm neonatal mortality is relatively high, Maternal medical problems, respiratory distress syndrome, low Apgar scores, and perinatal asphyxia should be prioritized to improve outcomes for preterm infants in this setting.
