Treatment outcomes of neonatal asphyxia at a national hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Birth asphyxia is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Birth asphyxia continues to present a major clinical problem, and worldwide approximately one million newborn infants are affected annually. The broad purpose of this study was to describe the care given to asphyxiated neonates at a neonatal unit at a national hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 40 neonates, admitted to the participating national hospital with neonatal asphyxia, was done. A checklist was used to obtain data from each patient's records and another checklist to identify the availability of equipment. Out of 190 neonates admitted to the neonatal unit, 40 (21.1%) suffered from neonatal asphyxia. Out of the 40 asphyxiated neonates, 25 (62.5%) were referred from peripheral hospitals. As many as 25 (62.5%) of these neonates died. Those with severe birth asphyxia had significantly increased chances of mortality (p = 0.000). The lack of resuscitative facilities, limited available technology and the shortage of skilled personnel posed challenges to manage cases of neonatal asphyxia effectively.