Abstract:

Background: The mortality rate of neonates in Tanzania is still the public health problem as it has remained to be stagnant despite the improvement of quality care, studies show that different factors such as maternal, neonatal and health system factors may contribute to neonatal mortality.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with neonatal mortality in neonatal intensive care unit at Bugando Medical Center, Mwanza, Tanzania

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the neonatal wards of Bugando Medical Centre, 206 neonates who were admitted in NICU during the study period. A systematic sampling procedure was used to collect information from the death registry. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS).

Results: The study population had a mean birth weight of 1606 grams and mean gestation age at birth of 32 weeks gestation. The study revealed that out of 206 neonates admitted in NICU, 86 (41.7%) 95% CI {1.51, 1.65} died while 120 (58.3%) were discharged. Among the died neonates, 35.4% with a chi-square of X2 (1, N =206) =12.055, P= 0.01 had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, 7.3% with a chi-square of X2 (1, N = 206) =6.769, P= 0.009, had birth asphyxia and 3.4% with a chi- square of X2 (1, N = 206) = 5.146, P = 0.023 had PDA.

Conclusion: The results of the study found that there is a consensus that neonatal mortality is multifactorial, resulting from the interaction of both maternal and neonatal factors. Several neonatal factors including low birth weight and congenital anomalies have been found which possibly relate to an increased risk of neonatal mortality

Recommendation: It’s recommended that further studies have to be done to assess causes and associated risk factors of neonatal mortality in Tanzania.