Perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Lusaka, 1976
Chintu, C.; Sukhani, S.
Medical Journal of Zambia 12(5): 110-115
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-651X PMID: 757908 Document Number: 451951
A prospective study of perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity at the (UTH), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka for 1976 is presented. The early neonatal mortality of the babies born in hospital was 28.7/1000 live-births; it was 239.96/1000 admissions of those born outside the hospital. The stillbirth rate in the hospital-born babies was 25.2/1000 deliveries; the perinatal mortality mortality was 53.3/1000 deliveries; and the neonatal mortality in the hospital-born was 31.1/1000 livebirths. The causes of death were asphyxia, infections, cold injury, respiratory distress syndrome, congenital malformation, and intracranial hemmorrhage. If the perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity are to be reduced, much effort and cooperation of all concerned with the health of the expectant mother, and her child, are required. Records of birth weights, stillbirths, and causes of deaths in the UTH for the year 1976 have been analyzed. The aim is to provide a basis for future comparisons and improvement of the care given to newborns. The UTH, Lusaka, is a 1100-bed general hospital which caters to about 450,000 residents, and also serves as a national referral hospital. Its Maternity wing and the special neonatal wing are close by. Mothers spend about 12-24 hours in hospital after straight forward delivery. If the pregnancy and delivery have been difficult, the stay in hospital is prolonged accordingly.