Patterns of morbidity and mortality among neonates admitted in Mirwais regional hospital, Kandahar, Afghanistan

ABSTRUCT Background Neonatal health is a critical global concern that reflects the national and global progress and challenges of health systems. Neonatal morbidity and mortality are major global public health problems. Methods We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of all neonates admitted to the NICU of the pediatric ward of Mirwais Regional Hospital between March 2023 and February 2024. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of neonatal morbidity and mortality as well as to compute case fatality rates in Mirwais Regional Hospital in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Results In our study, there were 3387 newborns admitted to the neonatal ward of Mirwais Regional Hospital over a one-year period (from March 2023 to February 2024). Prematurity was the most common reason for admission to the neonatal ward (1048/3387, 30.9 %). Other common conditions included neonatal sepsis (909/3387, 26.8%), birth asphyxia (785/3387, 23.1%), jaundice (466/3387, 13.7%), and tetanus (9/3387, 0.3%). Surgical causes contributed to (170/3387, 5.0%) morbidities. The overall mortality rate was 13.0% (442/ 3387). The major causes of mortality were premature birth (39.8%, 176/442), birth asphyxia (25.6%, 113/442), and neonatal sepsis (22.1%, 98/442). Other causes of mortality were neonatal jaundice (7.9%, 35/442), neonatal tetanus (0.9%, 4/442), and surgical disease (3.6%, 16/442). Neonatal tetanus had the highest mortality rate (44.4%). Conclusion Prematurity was the most common reason for admission, followed by birth asphyxia, neonatal sepsis, and jaundice. The overall mortality rate was 13%. Prematurity is a leading cause of neonatal mortality. Neonatal tetanus has a high mortality rate. Author summary Neonates were defined as those the in first 28 days of life. In humans, they are more vulnerable to diseases than any other age group. Neonatal morbidity and mortality are major public health problems with approximately 3.1 million babies worldwide dying each year in the first month of life. The main goal of this study was to estimate the types of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Merwais Regional Hospital, located in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. This study found that premature birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation) was the most common reason for admission to the neonatal ward. Other common conditions include neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia, neonatal jaundice, and neonatal tetanus. The overall mortality rate was high in the present study. The main cause of mortality was prematurity, followed by birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis. Interventions should be planned and implemented at different levels in the community to prevent and reduce the incidence of neonatal diseases and deaths.