Birth asphyxia survivors in a developing country.
OBJECTIVE
Determine the baseline incidence of birth asphyxia in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) survivors in a developing country and the early neurodevelopmental outcomes of such infants.


METHODS
This cross-sectional, prospective study collected diagnostic and examination findings on all infants seen in the University of Zambia NICU follow-up clinic over a 4-week period.


RESULTS
Of the 182 infants, 42 (23%) had a clinical diagnosis of birth asphyxia. Of 42 infants with birth asphyxia, 13 (31%) had an abnormal neurologic examination during the clinic visit; in contrast, 13 of 141 infants without birth asphyxia (9%) had an abnormal examination (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.8, 10.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Birth asphyxia survivors account for almost a quarter of NICU survivors in a developing country and half of those with an abnormal neurologic examination. Studies are necessary to determine the percent of birth asphyxia survivors who have permanent motor and cognitive disabilities.
Halloran
D R
DR
Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA. dhallor2@slu.edu
McClure
E
E
Chakraborty
H
H
Chomba
E
E
Wright
L L
LL
Carlo
W A
WA
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology