Pronostic Néonatal des Faibles Poids de Naissance au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the neonatal prognosis of low birth weight babies at Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and Method: Retrospective cohort study, conducted from 01 January to 30 June 2020 in the Neonatology Department of the Brazzaville University Hospital, including 200 hospitalized newborns weighing less than 2500 g, with a gestational age of between 22 and 41 weeks of amenorrhea (SA). The variables studied were ante-, per- and post-natal, therapeutic and survival-related. The p-value of the probability was considered significant for a value of less than 0.05. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Log Rank test at a significance level of less than 5%. Results: Low birth weight babies accounted for 45.6% of admissions (220/482). They had an average age of 32 ± 2.5 days' gestation and a median birth weight of 1700 g (1300-2000). Neonatal morbidity was marked by infection (57.5%), jaundice (46.5%), asphyxia (29.5%) and apnoea (24%). Lethality was 40.5% in relation to birth in a peripheral maternity unit (ORa=6.1[1.5-25.6] ; p<0.05), spoliation anaemia (ORa=14.3[1.2-164.6] ; p<0.05), malformation (ORa=9.6 [1.1-86.3]; p<0.05), dehydration (ORa=19.1 [1.1-317.5]; p<0.05) and apnoea (ORa=62 [3.4-1116.1]; p<0.05). Median survival was 22 days and was influenced by birth weight less than 1000 g (p<0.05). Conclusion: Low birth weight is a frequent occurrence at Brazzaville University Hospital. Nearly half of all cases
are fatal, with a strong correlation with neonatal morbidity.