Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: September | Volume: 8 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 10-19
Patterns of Morbidity among Newborns Admitted In SNCUs of Odisha, India
Dr. Meena Som1, Dr Chittaranjan Nayak2, Dr Bijaya K Padhi3, Dr. Neetika Ashwani4
1PhD Scholar (Public Health), Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
Health Specialist , UNICEF, Hyderabad Field Office, , Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2Assistant Professor (Stage II), Department of Economics, Ravenshaw University – 753003, Cuttack, Odisha, India
3Associate Professor; Principal, Asian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar
4Research Associate, Newborn Quality improvement project, Supported by UNICEF
Corresponding Author: Dr. Meena Som
ABSTRACT
Background: Odisha has the highest Neonatal mortality in India at 32/1000 live births. Thirty Special Newborn Care Units in the state provide specialized newborn care. We aimed to examine the patterns of morbidities among the admitted newborns and their immediate outcomes.
Methods: Patient-wise data was extracted from online software for all SNCUs for the period Jan 2015 to Dec 2017. Causes of admission; by type of admissions, birth weight, gestational age and outcomes of commonest morbidities were examined including the variations across years.
Results: The common causes of admission were HIE / Moderate to severe birth Asphyxia (29.09%), Prematurity / LBW (25%), Jaundice (15%) and Infections (Sepsis / Pneumonia / Meningitis) (15%). Birth Asphyxia and Prematurity / Low Birth Weight were the leading causes of admission among Inborns and Outborns respectively. Proportion of Birth Asphyxia was nearly ten percentage points higher among Inborns, while the proportion of infections were two times higher among Outborns. Birth Asphyxia admissions from health facility referrals were thrice that of community referrals. Sepsis admissions from community referrals were two times that of health facility referrals. Of the newborns admitted for Birth Asphyxia, 44% were of normal birth weight and 45% weighed between 1500 to 2500 gms. Birth Asphyxia had the lowest survival rate ranging from 64% to 60% among Inborn and Outborn respectively.
Conclusion: Birth Asphyxia is the leading cause of newborn morbidity, followed by Prematurity and Infections. Improved Obstetric management and early access to Caesarean sections are key interventions which may lead to reduction in Birth Asphyxia.
Key words: Newborn morbidity, Newborn mortality, Birth Asphyxia, Inborn, Outborn