Risk factors for neonatal death in India: A retrospective case control study

Abstract

Background

Neonatal mortality significantly contributes to the higher incidence of under-five neonatal deaths globally. This study aimed to identify the risk factors of neonatal death at a tertiary care hospital in Udupi District, Karnataka, India.

Method

A retrospective case-control study of 168 cases and 336 controls was undertaken. Cases were the neonates who died within 28 days of life in a tertiary care health facility matched with two controls (normal surviving term neonates) from the same year. The data was retrieved from the medical records using the risk assessment tool for neonatal deaths and analysed using the logistics regression model.

Results

Maternal and obstetric factors like age of mother, preeclampsia, hypertension in pregnancy, eclampsia, antepartum haemorrhage, polyhydramnios, premature rupture of membranes and multiple gestation; neonatal factors like age, low APGAR score, low birth weight, sepsis in the neonate, renal problems, respiratory conditions, metabolic disorder, cardiovascular diseases, bleeding disorder, organomegaly, congenital abnormalities; and fetal factors like IUGR, asphyxia, threatened preterm were significantly associated with higher odds of having neonatal death (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings of the study will help the health care professionals in early identification, creating awareness, and taking preventive action about these factors, which will ultimately help in reducing the neonatal death risk and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goal 3 i.e., “Good health and well-being.”