title: [Factors associated with the survival of very low birth weight neonates at the Yaounde gynaeco-obstetric and pediatric hospital, Cameroon].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The rate of survival of very low birth weight neonates (less than 1500 g) is still low in most developing countries, such as Cameroon. The aim of this study was to assess the maternal and neonatal factors that can influence the survival of neonates with birth weights under 1500 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, descriptive, and analytic study of 397 neonates weighing less than 1500 g who were admitted to the Yaounde gynaeco-obstetric and pediatric hospital from May 2003 to December 2011. The chi-squared test and the odds ratio were used to identify risk factors for death. The threshold of significance was P<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall survival rate was 26.5%. The main comorbidities were prematurity (99%), neonatal sepsis (36%), and intrauterine growth retardation (27.2%). The factors that statistically influenced outcome were: parity, birth weight, gestational age, the 5th-min Apgar score, advanced resuscitation at birth, and respiratory distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival of neonates weighing less than 1500 g depends on several factors, which if acted upon could improve the survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, hôpital gynéco-obstétrical et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroun; Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun. Electronic address: andy_chiabi@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiabi
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, hôpital gynéco-obstétrical et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroun; Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.affiliation: Faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ntsama Essomba
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, hôpital gynéco-obstétrical et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroun; Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguefack
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, hôpital gynéco-obstétrical et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroun; Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mbonda
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, hôpital gynéco-obstétrical et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroun; Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: P-F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tchokoteu
mesh_terms: D002163:Cameroon; D002423:Cause of Death; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate