title: Perinatal morbidity at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perinatal morbidity (PNM) is highest in the developing countries including Kenya. Studies on the perinatal morbidity in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) have not been carried out. Furthermore, factors associated with PNM are unknown at the MTRH.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the causes and incidence of perinatal morbidity at the MTRH NewBorn Unit (NBU).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study using case notes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The NBU of the MTRH in Eldoret, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Babies who were admitted to the MTRH's Newborn Unit from January to December 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perinatal morbidity was 667 per 1000 babies admitted to the NBU. The most common reason for admission was mother under anaesthesia. The most common cause of morbidity was asphyxia. The mean maternal age was 24 years. The mean level of education was 1.7 years. More than fifty five per cent of the mothers were housewives. The mean birthweight was 2.75 kg (+/- 0.9 SD), 55.9% had normal birthweight, 37% were low birthweight and three per cent were large babies. The mean duration of stay in the NBU was 3.8 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the admissions were Caesarean section babies who did not require admission. Younger mothers were more likely to have babies with neonatal sepsis, convulsions, pneumonia and asphyxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ayaya
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Esamai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sidle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors