Factors ASSOCIATED WITH NEONATAL SEPSIS AT THE WAR MEMORIAL

ABSTRACT

leonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among both term and

preterm infants. The current study was carried out to identify factors associated with neonatal

sepsis among neonates admitted to the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital.

A retrospective cross sectional study involving the review of hospital records of neonates

admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital between January, 2015 and

June. 2017
as undertaken. All neonates that were diagnosed as neonatal sepsis were considered

as cases and tho~c with conditions other than neonatal sepsis were considered as controls. Data

cre collccted on maternal. neonatal and delivery factors likely to be associated with neonatal

sepsis onto a data collection form specifically designed for this study. Data entry was done in

M~ excel and analyzed lIsing STA TA version 14 software.

Data on 243 mother and new-born pairs were analyzed and the prevalence of neonatal sepsis

found to be 56.4%. Factors found to be associated with sepsis were: asphyxia, low birth weight,

pretcrm dcliery. place of delivery and assisted ventilation. It is expected that when these factors

arc cncctivel~ addressed. the problem of neonatal sepsis can be reduced and in the long term

neonatal morbidity and mortality reduce.