Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 107 (1997)Neonatal Mortality Among Babies Managed by the Special Care Baby Unit at AlAin Hospital (1992-1996)Student Authors: Abdulla Khadem Al GhaithiFaculty Supervisors: Prof. N. Norman, Dr. J. Brebner, Dr. A. BenerAbstract:Objective To determine the neonatal mortality rate, causes of neonatal death andneonatal mortality risk factors at Al Ain Hospital.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on all live-born infants at Al AinHospital. The study period was 5 years from 1992-1996 and the files of the 153expired babies and their mothers were carefully studied.Results The NNMR was found to decline through the period of study with an averageof 6.91/1000 births. Prematurity (40.5%), congenital malformations (29.4%) andrespiratory disorders such as RDS, asphyxia and meconium aspiration (13.7%) werefound to be the most common causes of neonatal mortality. Teenage pregnancy, highmaternal age, nulliparity and consanguinity were found to be risk factors of neonatalmortality, while ante natal care provided was found not to relate neonatal mortality.Conclusion The reduced NNMR at Al Ain Hospital which compared favorably with otherstudies, suggest good obstetric and neonatal care is provided at the UAE. High numberof deaths among preterm babies was attributed to standards of obstetric and neonatalcare while increased number of deaths due to congenital malformations were found torelate to increased consanguinity and inadequate ante natal care related to geneticevaluation among high risk pregnancies.