Abstract
Objective: To determine the pattern and maternal
determinants of neonatal morbidity in Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients admitted in
Tertiary Care Hospitals of Rawalpindi.
Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study
was carried out among morbid neonates admitted in
NICU of Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto
Hospitals of Rawalpindi Medical University. A total of
240 alive newborn babies admitted from 25th March to
2
nd April 2019 were enrolled in this study through
consecutive sampling technique. We used a semistructured questionnaire pertinent to gestational age,
birth weight maternal age, mode of delivery, antenatal
visits, maternal anemia, maternal obstetric history and
pattern of neonatal morbidity.
Results: Study included 120 neonates with mean birth
weight of 2.1kg ± 0.80. Majority (51.7%) had low
birth weight and 26.7% very low birth weight.
Congenital malformations were observed in 6.7%
neonates. Preterm babies constituted 63.3%. We found
that 48.3% mothers were 26 – 30 years of age and
76.7% were administered tetanus toxoid during
pregnancy. About 20% mothers had less than 3
antenatal visits. Hemoglobin level of 40% mothers was
below 9 gm/dl. About 82% preterm neonates were
admitted in ICU with severe infections.
Conclusion: Preterm neonates were found to be more
asphyxiated, low birth weight, infectious and
jaundiced as compared to full term delivered babies.
Maternal anemia should be adequately managed for
outcome in neonates.
Keywords: Neonatal ICU, maternal anemia, preterm
neonates, tetanus toxoid, low birth weight.
