Abstract:
Background: Prematurity accounts about 1 million neonatal deaths worldwide and the second causes of both
neonatal and under five-child mortality. Neonatal mortality accounts for 43% of under-five child mortality in Ethiopia.
From this preterm is the second leading cause of death and is steadily increased in low-income countries. Therefore,
the aim of this study was to assess time to death and predictors among preterm neonates admitted in University of
Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital neonatal intensive care unit North West Ethiopia 2018.
Methods: Institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 516 preterm neonates from January
2016 to March 2018. Data were extracted retrospectively from patients’ records using a pretested structured checklist.
Descriptive summary statistics like median survival time, Kaplan Meier failure estimation curve and Log-rank test were
computed. Bivariate and multivariable Gompertz parametric hazards models were fitted to identify the predictors of
mortality. Hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically
significant.
Results: The proportion of preterm neonatal death in this study was 28.8% (95%CI (25.1, 32.9)). Home delivery (AHR =
2.25, 95% CI (1.03, 4.88)), hyaline membrane disease (AHR =3.21, 95% CI (1.96, 5.25)), gestational age, (AHR = 0.82, 95%
CI (0.74, 0.91)), cry immediately at birth (AHR = 1.74, 95% CI (1.19, 2.53)), kangaroo mother care (AHR = 0.24, 95%CI (0.11,
0.52)), presence of jaundice (AHR = 1.62, 95%CI (1.12, 2.54)) and hypoglycemia at admission (AHR = 1.75, 95%CI (1.21,
2.54)) were found to be significant predictors of time to death for preterm neonates.
Conclusion: Proportion of preterm neonatal death in this study was high. Home delivery, Jaundice, hypoglycemia,
gestational age, cry immediately at birth, kangaroo mother care and hyaline membrane disease were significant
predictors of time to death.
