Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality in a Neonatal Unit in a Vietnamese Hospital

Background: Despite the numerous advances in newborn care, neonatal mortality and morbidity remain high, especially in developing countries, which requires us to find a way to improve facility-based care. The present study investigates the pattern of diseases and mortalities among these neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Hue Central Hospital, Hue city, Vietnam, and explores the factors associated with the mortality. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Hue Central Hospital between January 2019 and December 2019. Factors including age, sex, gestational age (GA), weight, diagnosis, and causes of neonatal death were studied. Each case was analyzed regarding factors affecting neonatal mortality. Results: A total of 724 neonates were enrolled in this study. Of them, 403 (55.7%) were male, and 321 (44.3%) were female. Early-onset neonatal sepsis was the most frequent problem (49.9%), sequentially followed by late-onset neonatal sepsis (35.5%), congenital anomalies (14%), hyaline membrane disease (12.6%), unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (12.2%), and asphyxia (10.2%). Moreover, the mortality rate was reported as 13.2%. The factors associated with mortality included GA, birth weight, multiple anomalies, critical congenital heart defects, asphyxia, hyaline membrane disease, cerebellar hemorrhage, and early-onset neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis was the primary cause of morbidity in the neonatal care unit in Vietnam. Preterm birth, asphyxia, and multiple anomalies were the main risk factors associated with mortality. Early management of preterm births and neonatal diseases should be given priority for improving neonatal outcomes.