Evaluating the Outcomes of Neonatal deaths in Iraq and Identifying the Leading Causes in Pediatric Hospitals

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) defined neonatal mortality as death between birth and 28 days of life. In the United States, newborn mortality corresponds to 47% of the total deaths of children under five years of age. Aim: This study analyzed and assessed clinical outcomes related to neonatal deaths in pediatric Iraqi hospitals. Patients and methods: We conducted a survey of newborn patients for a period from March 6, 2022, to October 27, 2023, in different hospitals in Iraq. 108 newborns who had died were recruited, with ages ranging from (< 48 to > 96). We evaluated all negative patient outcomes, determined mortality rates, and assessed the newborns’ quality of life in the long term after birth.Results: Males had highest rate with 76 cases than females were 32 cases, as well as gestational age of neonatal include < 36 weeks had 62 cases, neonatal with ages (36 – 40) weeks was 28 cases, neonatal with > 40 weeks were 18 cases, mode of delivery which include vaginal delivery was 78 cases and Cesarean section was 30 cases, APGAR 1st minute of < 6 include 45 while >6 include 63, mortality rate of neonates was 30.56%, Our findings were shown adverse outcomes which determine common causes of neonates which are shortness of breath included 8, sepsis included 7 cases, and perinatal asphyxia included 11 cases, and mortality rate of neonates was 30.56%. Conclusion: The current study indicated that the high rate of complications and lack of prenatal health care cause high and dangerous complications, which results in deterioration of health quality and high neonatal death rate