Pk. Tietche,"ndombo et al., FACTORS CORRELATED WITH MORTALITY IN LOW- BIRTH-WEIGHT NEONATES AT THE YAOUNDE-CENTRAL-HOSPITAL, Annales de pediatrie, 41(4), 1994, pp. 259-263
Inhospital mortality rates and causes of death were studied retrospect
ively in the 297 low-birth-weight infants hospitalised at the Yaounde
Central Hospital from October 1, 1989 through September 30, 1990. Ther
e were 49.3% boys and 50.7% girls. The inhospital mortality rate was 3
6.12%. Among infants who died, the causes of low birth weight were dis
tributed as follows: prematurity only: 75.5%; prematurity and intraute
rine growth retardation: 22.2%; and intrauterine retardation only: 5.3
%. Most deaths (81.49%) occurred during the first postnatal week. Para
meters that were significantly correlated with a fatal outcome include
d gravida 1 para 1 status of the mother, inadequate prenatal health ca
re, need for resuscitation at birth, gestational age equal to or under
30 weeks, and birth weight equal to or under 1500 g. Bacterial infect
ions, apnea, and respiratory distress were the main causes of death.