Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Neonatology
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1434803
This article is part of the Research Topic What is new on the Horizon in Neonatology? Recent Advances in Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics in Neonatal Care. View all 20 articles

Treatment outcomes and its associated factors among neonates admitted with sepsis in Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia

Provisionally accepted
Betelhem Gezahegn Betelhem Gezahegn Ahmed Abdella Ahmed Abdella Fentahun Meseret Fentahun Meseret *Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Mulualem Keneni Mulualem Keneni Tesfaye Asfaw Tesfaye Asfaw Diribsa Tizazu Diribsa Tizazu Asefa Desalew Asefa Desalew
  • College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Neonatal sepsis is a major health challenge in neonatal medicine. This is because of its potential for rapid progression to multi-organ dysfunction and leading to higher morbidity and mortality. Although efforts have been made to advance the outcomes of neonates admitted to hospitals; there is a paucity of data on neonatal sepsis treatment outcomes in the study setting.Hence, this study aimed to assess the outcomes and prognostic factors of neonatal sepsis for patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital in Ethiopia.A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 311 neonates admitted between January 01, 2021 and December 30, 2023. Neonates were selected using systematic random sampling. The data relevant for this study were extracted from medical records using a checklist. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed using STATA version 17.Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable.Results: Eighty four of 311 patients (27.8%) (95% CI: 22.7%-32.9%) died and 218 (72.2%) were discharged after improvement. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, low white blood cell count (aOR=4.24, 95% CI: 1.5-12.5), being desaturated (aOR=3.00, 95% CI: 1.6-5.5), preterm birth (aOR=2.14, 95% CI: 1.1-4.0), no maternal antenatal care follow-up (aOR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-4.7), and chorioamnionitis (aOR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.2-6.5) were factors significantly associated with neonatal sepsis mortality.Approximately one-quarter of patients with neonatal sepsis died. Significant prognostic factors for mortality included a low white blood cell count, being desaturated, lack of antenatal care visits, and chorioamnionitis. Implementing targeted therapeutic interventions and addressing these prognostic factors can improve treatment outcomes.

    Keywords: Neonatal sepsis, Treatment outcomes, Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia

    Received: 18 May 2024; Accepted: 17 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gezahegn, Abdella, Meseret, Mohammed, Keneni, Asfaw, Tizazu and Desalew. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Fentahun Meseret, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.