Abstract:

Background: Neonatal period is the most vulnerable time of human life for diseases and most of these are preventable. Globally yearly, 2.6 million infants die before reaching 1 month old. One million of them die on their first day of their life while 2.6 million are born dead ,overall, it is estimated that up to 50% of all neonatal deaths occur within the first 24 hours after birth, and 75% by one week of age.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted at Sengerema district hospital involving medical files of 384 neonates admitted at the neonatal unit at the hospital. Data collection tool was used to fetch information from medical files and thereafter analysed using SPSS version 20 and the results obtained were presented inform of tables and figures.

Results:This study involved 191 (49.7%) males and 193 (50.30%) females whom majority, about 219 (57%) were born in hospital through spontaneous vaginal delivery. About 252 (65.6%) neonates were admitted for 3 days, 64.84% were born mature with difficult in breathing in 95 participants and furthermore majority accounting for 281 (74%) participants were alive

Conclusion: Majority of neonates admitted at Sengerema district hospital were diagnosed with birth asphyxia characterised by difficulty in breathing where also majority were admitted in three days period at the hospital. Amongst the birth outcomes, survival rate was high since more than one and half neonates were alive at the period of admission while only few had died.