© 1983 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Experience at Wesley: 1,391 Consecutive Admissions into the Neonatal Unit (Hurford Ward)
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Ife Ile-Ife, Nigeria
*All correspondence to: Dr. G. A. Oyedeji, Dept. of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
A review of neonatal specialist care in Hurford Ward of Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa was undertaken to see the effect of the opening of this special unit in 1969 on neonatal morbidity and mortality.
In a review of all the 1,391 consecutive admissions into the Hurford Ward between January 1978 and December 1979, the mortality was found to have fallen to an average of 16.5 per cent in 1978–79 from a previous rate of 23.4 per cent in 1969–71. During these periods the overall mortality rate in older children's admissions showed no significant change (12.5 per cent in 1968–71 and 12.4 per cent in 1978–79).
The neonatal admissions showed a male:female preponderance of 1.4:1.
Jaundice, infections and low birth weight were the commonest reasons for admission, constituting 33.1 per cent, 24.8 per cent and 14.2 per cent respectively of all the diagnoses made.
Low birth weight, infections and jaundice were the commonest diagnoses associated with death, constituting 35.2 per cent, 25 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively of all diagnoses in deceased neonates.
The neonatal mortality rate is lower than figures recorded from other centres in Nigeria where neonates are admitted into the children's emergency room in the first instance, if ward accommodation is not immediately available. This is so even when we match such figures with those in our outside referral group.
We believe that the opening of the Neonatal Unit is an important factor in the lower mortality figures.