SURVIVAL STATUS AND ITS PREDICTORS AMONG PRETERM NEONATES ADMITTED TO NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN WEST GUJI AND BORENA ZONES, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

To determine time to death and its predictors among preterm neonates admitted neonatal intensive care units at public hospitals in west Guji and Borena Zones, Southern Ethiopia, from September11, 2018 to September 10, 2021. Methods: -A hospital based retrospective cohort study was conductedamong preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units at public hospitals in west Guji and Borena zones, southernEthiopia. Simple random sampling techniquewas used and structured data collection checklist that wasprepared in English to extract data from therecords.Kaplan Meir curve and Log rank test was used to estimate the survival time and compare survival curves between variables and Cox-Proportional hazards model was used to identify significant predictors of time to death of preterm neonates. Result: -Out of 510neonates enrolled, 130(25.5%) (95% CI: 22, 29) neonates died with overall incidence of neonatal mortality 47.7 (95% CI:4, 5.7)per 1000 neonatal days.whereas the overall median survival time was 18 days with an interquartile range of(IQR= 6,24).Multivariable cox proportional hazard results revealed that lack ANC visit (AHR: 7.1, 95%CI: 4–12.65), primipara (AHR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.16–4.43), pregnancy complication(AHR: 3.4, 95%CI: 1.94–6.0), Bag and mask resuscitationat birth (AHR: 2.1, 95%CI: 0.28 –0.77) and not receiving Kangaroo mother care (AHR: 9.3, 95%CI: 4.36 –19.9) were significantly predictors of preterm neonatal survival. Conclusion: -Mortality of preterm neonates was found to be high. Various maternal and neonatal predictors of survival were identified, indicating a need for stakeholders toenhance efforts towards prevention of pretermassociated complications and optimize facility-based continuum of care.Prospective longitudinal study focused on maternal socioeconomic,nutritional and institutional related factors is recommended