Abstract:
Background: Preterm neonates have a much higher risk of death and disability than term
neonates. Prematurity accounts about 1 million neonatal deaths worldwide and it is the second
causes of both neonatal and under five-child mortality. Neonatal mortality accounts for 43% of
child mortality in Ethiopia. The risk of serious medical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental
retardation, and disorders of psychological development, behavior, and emotion, as well as of
other major disabilities such as blindness or low vision, hearing loss, and epilepsy increased
markedly with preterm birth.
Objective: To investigate survival and predictor of mortality among preterm neonates admitted
at public hospital.
Methods: An institution-based retrospective follow up study was conducted among 636
premature neonates admitted to Neonatal intensive care unit from January 01/01/ 2018-Decmber
31/12/2021,North shoa, Ethiopia, 2022. The sample size is determined using a double population
proportion formula. Data collected by reviewing medical records Data entered using Epi-data
4.12 software and analysis done using SPSS 23. Variables that show significant association in
the Cox-proportional Hazard Model (p<0.05) entered in multivariable logistic regressions model.
Adjusted odds ratio with 95% Confidence interval (CI) and p value < 0.05 used to claim
statistical significance.
Result: In this study, six hundred thirty six preterm neonates data were included in the analysis
(62.3%) of the mothers were resided in rural area and 37.7 % of mother were resided in urban..
The hazard of death among preterm neonates whose gestational age is 28-31 was 1.6 times
higher as compared to whose gestational age is 32-36( AHR=1.630 ;95% CI:(1.106,2.401).The
risk of death for preterm neonates diagnosed with PNA was 1.6 times as compared to its counter
parts( AHR=1.558;95% CI:(0.973,2.494).The hazard death of preterm. The hazard of death for
preterm neonates who cried immediately at birth decreased by 14% as compared to the
counterpart(AHR=0.86;(0.54,1.39).the hazard death of providing kangaroo mother care for all
preterm neonates reduce risk of death by 48% as compared to not provided kangaroo other care
(AHR=0.52 CI: 95%(0.32,0.86).
Conclusion: Preterm neonatal mortality was high and the predictors were almost all preventable
and treatable. Therefore, emphasis should be given toward prevention and early anticipation, and
management of these predictors.
