Descriptive study of neonatal death in neonatal care unit of Baghdad Teaching Hospital Medical City Baghdad (2007-2009)‎

الملخص EN

Background : in developing countries, neonatal death account for 99 % of neonatal deaths in the world.

In Iraq, the neonatal death rates are still unknown.

Objectives : to assess the death rate and the major causes of neonatal death in the neonatal care unit (NCU) in Baghdad Teaching Hospital-Medical City / Baghdad.

Patients & Methods : A descriptive study of 564 neonatal deaths in the neonatal care unit (NCU) from 1st of January 2007 to 31st of December 2009 in Baghdad Teaching Hospital-Medical City / Baghdad was carried out, and the causes of death as registered in the neonatal medical records and death certificates were studied.

Results : neonatal death rate relative to admission was (18.5 %).

The Neonatal death rates were lower in 2007(15 %) than 2008(20 %) and 2009(19.2 %), of 564 total neonatal deaths, males were 329 (58.3 %), 235 (41.7 %) were females with male to female ratio was 1.4:1.

Eighty percent of neonatal deaths were preterm deliveries and (79 %) were low birth weight (< 2.5 kg).

Major causes of death were: Respiratory problems (62.8 %), followed by congenital anomalies (17 %), neonatal infections (11.2 %) and birth asphyxia (9 %).

Conclusions : the Neonatal death rate was lower in 2007 than 2008 and 2009.

There was a high male to female ratio, and high percent of preterm deliveries and LBW.

The main causes of death were respiratory problems, congenital anomalies and neonatal infections.