BIRTH-WEIGHT-SPECIFIC NEONATAL MORTALITIES

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the Special Care Baby Unit o f Afif General Hospital over 3 years. Methods: A retrospective analysi s of all admissions and deaths in the Special Care Baby Unit, with emp hasis on birthweight-specific patterns and rates during the period 1/7 /93 to 30/6/96 at Afif General Hospital, Afif, Riyadh Region. Results: The overall mortality rate was 11.7%; the rates in the first, second and third periods were 6.3, 15.4 and 16.3% respectively, that of the f irst period being significantly lower than subsequently (p<0.001). Ear ly neonatal deaths occurred significantly more frequently among babies in the lower end of the birthweight distribution scale(p<0.05). Respi ratory distress syndrome contributed most frequently to deaths among v ery low birthweight babies, whereas severe birth asphyxia was the pred ominant diagnosis among those of normal birthweight, which in some cas es were due to obstetric complications with largely unpredictable outc ome. Conclusion: The pattern of mortality does not differ significantl y from elsewhere in the Kingdom; the vast majority of deaths occurring among very low birth weight babies and respiratory distress syndrome being a major contributor. The unique position of Afif is a major fact or underlying decisions to transfer sick neonates.