Abstract:
Background: Prematurity is an important risk factor for survival of neonates and associated with
increased perinatal mortality. Preterm birth rate is increasing worldwide and great disparities exist
in quality, access to care and survival rates across countries. Even though, the majority of the
causes can be effectively prevented by providing adequate medical care during pregnancy and
childbirth with access to proven and inexpensive care; It is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity
and mortality. Preterm survival rate and factors affecting among admitted neonates had not been
studied in the study area.
Objective: To assess survival of Neonates and its predictors among Preterm Neonate admitted at
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Debretabor General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, from January,
22-February 6, 2018.
Methodology: Institution based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 535 preterm
Neonates admitted at Debretabor General Hospital from January 1, 2014-December 30, 2017. Data
were entered into EPi-data 4.2 and exported to STATA version 14 statistical package software for
analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test were used to look statistical differences
between categories of variables. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify independent
predictors of preterm survival. P-value ≤ 0.05 was inferred statistically significant. The goodness
of fit of the final model was done by Cox-Snell residuals test.
Result: In this study preterm survival rate was 68.8 % (95%CI: 64.9, 72.7).Preterm neonates with
a gestational age of less than 32 weeks of gestation (AHR=1.74; 95%CI: 1.24, 2.46), Male sex
(AHR=1.38; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.90), Borne from preeclampsia/ Eclampsia mothers (AHR=1.95;
95%CI: 1.13, 3.36), Extremely Very low birth weight (AHR=2.94, 95%CI: 1.05, 8.24),Respiratory
distress syndrome (AHR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.20, 2.41) were statically significant predictors of preterm
death.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Preterm neonatal survival rate was low. Managing maternal
complications, low birth weight, prematurity; and ensuring a continuum of care to increase
survival of preterm neonates.
