Abstract:

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) screened using cranial ultrasounds is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among preterm neonates. Despite the adverse neonatal outcomes attributed to IVH, there are limited studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa on IVH occurrence and determinants of early outcomes. This study assessed the proportion of neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, its determinants and the early outcomes of preterm neonates with the condition as well as the treatment undertaken.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of intraventricular hemorrhage and post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus amongst pre term babies at BMC.
Methodology: The study was a hospital based cross sectional study among preterm neonates at BMC The study was conducted from August 2021 to March 2022.

Results: A total of 183 pre-term neonates were enrolled with 100% response rate, 107 (58.5%) were female in which 109 (59.6%) were born by SVD at the gestational age of around 31-33 weeks (n=73, 39.9%) with the average weight of 1.5Kg to 2Kg. The prevalence of IVH AND PHH was 3.3% (n=4) having found with bulging fontanelle, increased head circumference as well as increased ventricle size on ultrasound. All of the patients (100%) had normal vitals at presentation. The mode of treatment employed for the prevalent cases was medical treatment as well as surgical treatment.

Conclusion: Majority of the neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage presented with lower grades of the condition. Their risk of being diagnosed with the condition significantly increased among neonates with very low gestational age and extremely low birthweight. There was no death reported among the preterm neonates with IVH AND PHH. We recommend enhanced antenatal steroid use among mothers at risk of having preterm deliveries and newborns with intraventricular hemorrhage. Future studies should follow-up both neonates with and without intraventricular hemorrhage to determine causality.