The pattern of admission and outcome of neonates managed in the neonatal intensive care unit in a Sudanese hospital
Background: This study aimed to assess the admission pattern and outcome of neonates managed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a Sudanese hospital.Methods: This hospital-based retrospective study was conducted in the NICU of Saad Abu Elella Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Data was collected from medical records of 207 neonates using an extraction form. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used in analysis.Results: Most of the neonates were term, and 43% of them had a birth weight less than 2.5 kg. Moreover, the most common morbidities among them were sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal jaundice and asphyxia, and the mortality rate was 15%. Additionally, the birth weight, gestational age, the need for resuscitations, direct breast feeding and being beside mother were found to be significantly associated with the studied outcome.Conclusions: Majority of causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in our study were preventable diseases. Therefore, interventions to improve services in the NICU are highly needed to improve the outcomes.