Neonatal mortality and associated factors in the specialized neonatal care unit Asmara, Eritrea

BACKGROUND: Limited knowledge on the magnitude of neonatal mortality and associated factors is hampering early intervention in African countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine neonatal mortality and associated factors in the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit Asmara, Eritrea. METHODS: Medical records of all neonates admitted to the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit in 2016 were reviewed using a cross-sectional study. The most important causes of admission and mortality were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the strength of risk factors associated with neonatal mortality. Variables significant at P 24 h in the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI, 0.11-0.46) had a lower likelihood of death. Overall 95.8% of mothers of neonates attended antenatal care and 96.6% were facility delivered. None of the maternal conditions were associated with neonatal mortality in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Low birth weight, late admission, low apgar scores and congenital abnormalities were significantly associated with neonatal mortality in the Specialized Neonatal Care Unit. Early management of low birth weight, preterm births, and neonatal complications should be the priority issues for controlling local neonatal deaths.