Risk Factors for Neonatal Mortality at St Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Neonatal mortality remains a public health concern in developing countries such as Burkina Faso. Improving the survival rate of newborns requires a good knowledge of the current situation. This study aimed at determining the risk factors for neonatal mortality in the Neonatology Department of Saint Camille Hospital of Ouagadougou (HOSCO - Hôpital Saint Camille de Ouagadougou).

This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study that included all newborns hospitalized in the neonatology department, at St Camille Hospital, in Burkina Faso from January 1 to December 31, 2017. Total of 710 records of hospitalized newborns in 2017 were analyzed. Among them our study focused on cases of death.

The neonatology department registered 246 deaths out of 710 hospitalizations, representing a mortality rate of 34.6%, of whom 194 (78.8%) were preterm infants and 52 (11.2%) were term newborns. Among the deceased newborns, 88% had a low birth weight and the sex ratio was 0.8. November was the most fatal period (12.6%). Prematurity and respiratory distress were the main reasons for referral. Prematurity (76.4%), asphyxia (51.2%) and neonatal infection (27.2%) were the top 3 diagnoses at admission. The leading cause of death was respiratory distress (89.8%). All the newborns have been hospitalized within 24 hours of life and the average time to death in the unit was 3 days and 54% of deaths occurred within 72 hours of hospitalization.

Mortality rate is higher among preterm infants while it is relatively low among full-term newborns in our facility. Prematurity, asphyxia and neonatal infection remain the main risk factors associated with neonatal mortality.