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. 2024 Jul 15;24(1):452.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-04933-6.

Time to recovery and predictors among admitted preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care units of public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021

Fekadeselassie Belege Getaneh  1 , Natnael Moges  2 , Dires Birhanu Mihretie  3 , Zebenay Workneh Bitew  4
Affiliations

Time to recovery and predictors among admitted preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care units of public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021

Fekadeselassie Belege Getaneh et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Ethiopia implemented measures to reduce preterm mortality, and much is currently being done to avoid preterm death, yet preterm death remains the top cause of infant death. As a result, evaluating median time of recovery and determinants will provide information to planners and policymakers to design strategies to improve preterm survival.

Methods: Hospital-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted in four selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa from September 2018 to August 2021. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Epi-data 4.6 and STATA Version 16 were used for data entry and analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve, log-rank test, and median time were computed. To find predictors of time to recovery, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted, and variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 466 preterm babies were included in the study of which 261 (56.1%) preterm neonates survived and were discharged from NICUs. The median time to recovery was 10 days (95% CI: 9-12). Low birth weight (Adjusted hazard-ratio [AHR]: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.2-3.06), normal birth weight (AHR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.16-3.76), late preterm (AHR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02-3.55), no hospital-acquired infection (AHR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.36-3.5), no thrombocytopenia (AHR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.27-3.02), continuous positive airway pressure (AHR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48-0.91), and kangaroo mother care (AHR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.48-2.81) were found to be independent predictors of time to recovery of preterm babies.

Discussion/conclusion: The recovery rate was found relatively low. Several predictors of preterm recovery time were discovered in the study. The majority of predictors were preventable or treatable. Therefore, emphasis should be given towards prevention and early anticipation, and management of these predictors. Studies to assess the quality of care and cause of low survival rate of preterm infants are recommended.

Keywords: Discharge; Factors; Incidence rate; Preterm; Survival.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic presentation of sampling procedure on median discharge time and predictors among preterm newborns admitted to NICUs of public hospitals, A.A, Ethiopia, 2021
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Overall Kaplan-Meier survival estimate of preterm neonates admitted in Addis Ababa public hospitals from 2018–2021, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The KM survival curves compare discharge time with different gestational ages among preterm babies who were admitted at NICUs of Addis Ababa public hospitals, Ethiopia, from 2018-to 2021
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The KM survival curves compare discharge time of kangaroo mother care among preterm babies who were admitted at NICUs of Addis Ababa public hospitals, Ethiopia, from 2018–2021
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The KM survival curves compare discharge time of CPAP therapy among preterm babies who were admitted at NICUs of Addis Ababa public hospitals, Ethiopia, from 2018–2021
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