Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India

Introduction: Neonatal mortality and morbidity remain a significant challenge in India, accounting for 24% of global neonatal mortality. Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) have been established to address this issue. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the outcomes of SNCUs by measuring morbidity...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nerella Jwala Vasavi, Sandhyadevi Lingala, Suresh Reddeppagari, Nanaji Rao Pala
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ijnmr.net/articles/PDF/2445/78662_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(KR)_PF1(AG_SL)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849420433056595968
author Nerella Jwala Vasavi
Sandhyadevi Lingala
Suresh Reddeppagari
Nanaji Rao Pala
author_facet Nerella Jwala Vasavi
Sandhyadevi Lingala
Suresh Reddeppagari
Nanaji Rao Pala
author_sort Nerella Jwala Vasavi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Neonatal mortality and morbidity remain a significant challenge in India, accounting for 24% of global neonatal mortality. Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) have been established to address this issue. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the outcomes of SNCUs by measuring morbidity patterns and hospital stays among preterm neonates in these units. Aim: To evaluate the incidence, morbidity patterns and outcomes of preterm neonates admitted to the SNCU. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, from January 2020 to December 2022, during which 4,135 neonatal admissions were analysed. The study included all preterm newborns admitted to the SNCU. Additionally, only live births were included to ensure consistency in data analysis. The variables studied included gender, prematurity, birth weight, twin gestations, inborn/outborn status, outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidity, and complications. The Chi-square test was used for analysing differences in proportions. R esults: Out of 4,135 neonates, 1,559 (37.7%) were preterm, with annual variations of (494/1,461) 33.8% in 2020, increasing to (542/1,322) 41% in 2021, before slightly decreasing to (523/1,352) 38.7% in 2022. Among the preterm neonates, 809 (51.9%) were males and 750 (48.1%) were females. Early preterm births (≤32 weeks’ gestation) constituted 69% (1,076) of the cases, while late preterm births accounted for 31% (483). Co-morbidities included Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) 1,141 (73.2%), Low Birth Weight (LBW) 637 (40.9%), and birth asphyxia 139 (8.9%). C onclusion: There was a relatively high incidence of preterm births in the SNCU. Mortality was observed to be notably higher among outborn neonates compared to inborn neonates, particularly due to RDS and sepsis. The study underscores the significant burden of preterm births in Nellore, highlighting the need for enhanced perinatal care, early referral systems and targeted interventions to mitigate neonatal morbidity and mortality in this region.
format Article
id doaj-art-4c6301a2cea645858d7e68196e3486ab
institution Kabale University
issn 2277-8527
2455-6890
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.
record_format Article
series Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research
spelling doaj-art-4c6301a2cea645858d7e68196e3486ab2025-08-20T03:31:45ZengJCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research2277-85272455-68902025-04-01132PO25PO2910.7860/IJNMR/2025/78662.2445Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaNerella Jwala Vasavi0Sandhyadevi Lingala1Suresh Reddeppagari2Nanaji Rao Pala3Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, ACSR Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Introduction: Neonatal mortality and morbidity remain a significant challenge in India, accounting for 24% of global neonatal mortality. Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) have been established to address this issue. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the outcomes of SNCUs by measuring morbidity patterns and hospital stays among preterm neonates in these units. Aim: To evaluate the incidence, morbidity patterns and outcomes of preterm neonates admitted to the SNCU. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, from January 2020 to December 2022, during which 4,135 neonatal admissions were analysed. The study included all preterm newborns admitted to the SNCU. Additionally, only live births were included to ensure consistency in data analysis. The variables studied included gender, prematurity, birth weight, twin gestations, inborn/outborn status, outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidity, and complications. The Chi-square test was used for analysing differences in proportions. R esults: Out of 4,135 neonates, 1,559 (37.7%) were preterm, with annual variations of (494/1,461) 33.8% in 2020, increasing to (542/1,322) 41% in 2021, before slightly decreasing to (523/1,352) 38.7% in 2022. Among the preterm neonates, 809 (51.9%) were males and 750 (48.1%) were females. Early preterm births (≤32 weeks’ gestation) constituted 69% (1,076) of the cases, while late preterm births accounted for 31% (483). Co-morbidities included Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) 1,141 (73.2%), Low Birth Weight (LBW) 637 (40.9%), and birth asphyxia 139 (8.9%). C onclusion: There was a relatively high incidence of preterm births in the SNCU. Mortality was observed to be notably higher among outborn neonates compared to inborn neonates, particularly due to RDS and sepsis. The study underscores the significant burden of preterm births in Nellore, highlighting the need for enhanced perinatal care, early referral systems and targeted interventions to mitigate neonatal morbidity and mortality in this region.https://www.ijnmr.net/articles/PDF/2445/78662_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(KR)_PF1(AG_SL)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdfmortalityperinatal careprematurityrespiratory distress syndromesepsis
spellingShingle Nerella Jwala Vasavi
Sandhyadevi Lingala
Suresh Reddeppagari
Nanaji Rao Pala
Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research
mortality
perinatal care
prematurity
respiratory distress syndrome
sepsis
title Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
title_full Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
title_fullStr Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
title_full_unstemmed Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
title_short Incidence, Morbidity Pattern and Outcomes among Preterm Babies Admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit: A Retrospective Observational Study from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
title_sort incidence morbidity pattern and outcomes among preterm babies admitted in special newborn care unit a retrospective observational study from nellore andhra pradesh india
topic mortality
perinatal care
prematurity
respiratory distress syndrome
sepsis
url https://www.ijnmr.net/articles/PDF/2445/78662_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(KR)_PF1(AG_SL)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT nerellajwalavasavi incidencemorbiditypatternandoutcomesamongpretermbabiesadmittedinspecialnewborncareunitaretrospectiveobservationalstudyfromnelloreandhrapradeshindia
AT sandhyadevilingala incidencemorbiditypatternandoutcomesamongpretermbabiesadmittedinspecialnewborncareunitaretrospectiveobservationalstudyfromnelloreandhrapradeshindia
AT sureshreddeppagari incidencemorbiditypatternandoutcomesamongpretermbabiesadmittedinspecialnewborncareunitaretrospectiveobservationalstudyfromnelloreandhrapradeshindia
AT nanajiraopala incidencemorbiditypatternandoutcomesamongpretermbabiesadmittedinspecialnewborncareunitaretrospectiveobservationalstudyfromnelloreandhrapradeshindia