NEONATAL HYPOGLYCAEMIA AT CAPE COAST TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Hypoglycaemia is an important metabolic condition in the neonate although there is no common consensus with regards to diagnosis, management and follow-up. It is common in preterm, small and large for gestational age and in birth asphyxia. Although the incidence of these predisposing factors is common among neonates in Ghana, the prevalence of neonatal hypoglycaemia (NH) has not been studied in this environment.

Aim and objectives: To determine the prevalence of neonatal hypoglycaemia at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Design: Cross sectional.

Setting: Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Patients and methods: Neonates between 3-24 hours of age delivered at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital were included in the study. The blood glucose concentration was measured using Onetouch^® Select ^TM Blood Glucose Monitoring System for 434 consecutively delivered neonates within 3-24 hours of birth. In addition the birth and delivery characteristics of the neonates were recorded.

Results: The overall prevalence of neonatal hypoglycaemia (NH) was 16 per 1000 births. The prevalence in appropriate weight for gestational age was 21 per 1000 births but none in small and large for gestational age group. The prevalence of NH in preterm, term and post-term neonates were 0, 18 and 15 per 1000 births respectively.

Conclusion: The study showed that neonatal hypoglycaemia is common in Ghana although the expected result of high neonatal hypoglycaemia in preterm, small and large for gestational age groups was not recorded in this study.

Keywords: Gestational age; Ghana; Neonatal hypoglycaemia; Preterm babies.