title: Neonatal mortality in a referral hospital in Cameroon over a seven year period: trends, associated factors and causes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fourth Millennium Development Goals targets reduction by 2/3 the mortality rate of under-fives by 2015. This reduction starts with that of neonatal mortality representing 40% of childhood mortality. In Cameroon neonatal mortality was 31‰ in 2011.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the trends, associated factors and causes of neonatal deaths at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a retrospective chart review. Data was collected from the hospital records, and included both maternal and neonatal variables from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The neonatal mortality was 10%. Out-borns represented 49.3% of the deceased neonates with 11.3% born at home. The neonatal mortality rate followed a downward trend dropping from 12.4% in 2004 to 7.2% in 2010. The major causes of deaths were: neonatal sepsis (37.85%), prematurity (31.26%), birth asphyxia (16%), and congenital malformations (10.54%). Most (74.2%) of the deaths occurred within the first week with 35% occurring within 24hours of life. Mortality was higher in neonates with birth weight less than 2500g and a gestational age of less than 37 weeks. In the mothers, it was high in single parenthood , primiparous and in housewives and students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There has been a steady decline of neonatal mortality since 2004. Neonatal sepsis, prematurity, birth asphyxia and congenital malformations were the major causes of neonatal deaths. Neonatal sepsis remained constant although at lower rates over the study period.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I/Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mah-Mungyeh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I/Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiabi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Fanny Lorraine
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Tchokoteu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I/Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Seraphin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguefack
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bogne
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Hyppolyte
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Siyou H
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Florence Soh
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Fru
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I/Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Enoh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I/Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mbonda
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I/Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Pierre Fernand
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tchokoteu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cameroon; mortality; neonates; referral hospital
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