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. 2009 Mar;29(3):243-9.
doi: 10.1038/jp.2008.192. Epub 2008 Nov 27.

Birth asphyxia survivors in a developing country

D R Halloran  1 , E McClure, H Chakraborty, E Chomba, L L Wright, W A Carlo
Affiliations

Birth asphyxia survivors in a developing country

D R Halloran et al. J Perinatol. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Determine the baseline incidence of birth asphyxia in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) survivors in a developing country and the early neurodevelopmental outcomes of such infants.

Study design: This cross-sectional, prospective study collected diagnostic and examination findings on all infants seen in the University of Zambia NICU follow-up clinic over a 4-week period.

Result: Of the 182 infants, 42 (23%) had a clinical diagnosis of birth asphyxia. Of 42 infants with birth asphyxia, 13 (31%) had an abnormal neurologic examination during the clinic visit; in contrast, 13 of 141 infants without birth asphyxia (9%) had an abnormal examination (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.8, 10.4).

Conclusion: Birth asphyxia survivors account for almost a quarter of NICU survivors in a developing country and half of those with an abnormal neurologic examination. Studies are necessary to determine the percent of birth asphyxia survivors who have permanent motor and cognitive disabilities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest/Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Neurologic examination findings for infants with and without a clinical diagnosis of birth asphyxia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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