Pattern and Outcome of Preterm Newborns Admiited to NICU Bacha Khan Medical Complex /Gajju Khan Medical Complex Swabi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i7.2771Keywords:
Preterm Neonates, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Morbidity, Neonatal Mortality.Abstract
Prematurity remains a leading contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource countries such as Pakistan. Despite improvements in neonatal intensive care services, preterm infants continue to experience high rates of adverse outcomes. Identifying local determinants of neonatal morbidity and mortality is essential for targeted interventions. To determine the spectrum of morbidities and predictors of clinical outcomes among preterm neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi.This prospective cohort study was conducted over 18 months (January 2024-June 2025) and included 221 preterm neonates (<37 weeks gestation). Data regarding gestational age, birth weight, gender, maternal and perinatal factors, major morbidities, oxygen requirement, duration of hospital stay, and outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied using SPSS version 23, with p<0.05 considered significant. The mean gestational age was 31.6 ± 2.1 weeks and mean birth weight was 1558 ± 425 g. Most neonates were very preterm (34.4%) or moderate preterm (33%), and 58.8% were low birth weight. Sepsis (39.4%), jaundice (32.1%), congenital heart disease (8.6%), and oxygen requirement (59.2%) were the common morbidities. Overall, 62.9% of neonates improved while 37.1% expired. Mortality was significantly higher among extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight infants (p<0.001). Sepsis and congenital heart disease were also strongly associated with poor outcomes. Prematurity, low birth weight, sepsis, and congenital heart disease are major predictors of adverse outcomes among NICU-admitted neonates. Strengthening antenatal care, infection control practices, and NICU facilities is essential to further reduce neonatal mortality in this region.
Downloads
References
1. Mabrouk, A., Mbithi, G., Chongwo, E., Too, E., Sarki, A., Namuguzi, M., Atukwatse, J., Ssewanyana, D., & Abubakar, A. (2022). Mental health interventions for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.937723
2. Zivaljevic, J., Jovandaric, M. Z., Babic, S., & Raus, M. (2024). Complications of preterm birth—The importance of care for the outcome: A narrative review. Medicina, 60(6), 1014.
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60061014
3. Outcomes I of M (US) C on IB, Bale JR, Stoll BJ, Lucas AO. Reducing Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity. In: Improving Birth Outcomes: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World [Internet]. National Academies Press (US); 2003 [cited 2025 Dec 6].
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222108/
4. Khasawneh, W., Sindiani, A., Rawabdeh, S. A., Aleshawi, A., & Kanaan, D. (2020). Indications and Clinical Profile of Neonatal Admissions: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Analysis from a Single Academic Center in Jordan. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 13, 997-1006.
https://doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.s275267
5. Naz, L., Patel, K. K., & Dilanchiev, A. (2021). Are socioeconomic status and type of residence critical risk factors of under-five mortality in Pakistan? Evidence from nationally representative survey. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 10, 100670.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2020.11.003
6. Kamal, A., Naz, L., & Shakeel, A. (2024). Trends and population attributable risk estimates for individual and community-level factors of neonatal mortality in Pakistan (1990–2018). International Journal of Social Economics, 51(11), 1483-1497.
https://doi.org/10.1108/ijse-09-2022-0604
7. Howden-Chapman, P., Siri, J., Chisholm, E., Chapman, R., Doll, C. N., & Capon, A. (2017). Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All at All Ages.
8. Allen, K. A., & Brandon, D. H. (2011). Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: Pathophysiology and experimental treatments. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, 11(3), 125-133.
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2011.07.004
9. Low birthweight (% newborns who weigh <2.5kg) [Internet]. [cited 2025 Dec 6].
10. nhs.uk [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2025 Dec 6]. Newborn respiratory distress syndrome.
11. Ansong-Assoku B, Adnan M, Daley SF, Ankola PA. Neonatal Jaundice. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 [cited 2025 Dec 6].
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532930/
12. Meng, X., Song, M., Zhang, K., Lu, W., Li, Y., Zhang, C., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Congenital heart disease: Types, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options. MedComm, 5(7).
https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.631
13. Outcomes of Preterm Infants - Clinics in Perinatology [Internet]. [cited 2025 Dec 6].
https://www.perinatology.theclinics.com/article/S0095-5108(22)00105-1/abstract
14. Feleke T, Kaweti G. Predictors of preterm neonatal mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary medical institution in Ethiopia. Front Pediatr [Internet]. 2025 Sept 19 [cited 2025 Dec 6];13.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1414127/full
15. Edwards, E. M., Ehret, D. E., Soll, R. F., & Horbar, J. D. (2024). Survival of infants born at 22 to 25 weeks’ gestation receiving care in the NICU: 2020–2022. Pediatrics, 154(4), e2024065963.
16. Aly S, Qattea I, Kattea MO, Aly HZ. Neonatal outcomes in preterm infants with severe congenital heart disease: a national cohort analysis. Front Pediatr [Internet]. 2024 Apr 25 [cited 2025 Dec 7];12.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1326804/full
17. Sharma S, Sahu MK. (2025). Neonatal intensive care: outcomes and long-term developmental implications for preterm infants. Journal of Neonatal Surgery, 14(1S), 223–7.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indus Journal of Bioscience Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
