Determinants of survival of extremely low birth weight infants in a rural Nigerian Hospital

Abstract

Background: Over 90% of the neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Prematurity is related to more than one-third of these deaths on a global scale; with the extremely low birth weight (ELBW) category having a 100-fold mortality risk compared to the normal birth weight infants. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the survival rates of ELBW infants and to identify the factors associated with survival in a rural hospital in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: All the neonates admitted to the unit weighing <1000 g at admission were enrolled. The birth place,
gender, gestational age (GA), birth weight, postnatal age, temperature, blood sugar at admission, and outcome were documented. None of the babies received surfactant or assisted ventilation. Results: 29 out of 992 neonates (3%) admitted to the neonatal unit over the study period were ELBW. The survival rates of the inborn and outborn neonates were 33% and 14%, respectively. Conclusions: Factors associated with increased survival were inborn, GA ?28 weeks, birth weight of 750 g, inborn and admission within 2 h of life.