1.0. INTRODUCTION
Neonatal admission generally refers to the admission of newborns under 29 days old into a health facility for medical care. Because neonates are fragile and yet to develop competent immune system, they are prone to infections and most of the illnesses they acquire usually require critical care, hence their admission to the neonatal and intensive care units (NICU) (Gupta et al., 1993). Neonatal infections may begin in-utero, early in labour or postpartum (U.N IGME, 2014).
Factors influencing neonatal admissions include socio-cultural effects and bahaviours such as illiteracy, socioeconomic deprivation, traditional beliefs, gender bias and change resistance (W.H.O, 2006). In addition, premature birth, and genetic defects such …show more content…
The World Bank Report (2015) reveals that Ghana had a stable neonatal death rate of 30% from 2010 to 2013, with a marginal decline to 29% in 2014. It has been reported that neonatal deaths are high in poverty stricken regions and the northern region is among the poorest regions in Ghana, and contributing 59% neonatal death rate to the over 60% infant death rate occurring in the first month of life nationally in 2011(GSS, 2011). It is therefore hypothesized that the region will have relatively high neonatal death. Establishing the pattern, causes and outcomes of neonatal admissions in the Tamale Teaching Hospital will be essential in informing policy interventions aimed at reducing neonatal …show more content…
The reason for this observation is multifaceted which include inadequate infrastructure for neonatal care and limited gynaecologic and neonatologic specialists care. Even though several policy interventions have been rolled out to curb under –five health complications, neonatal associated health problems still remain a major public health challenge, especially in resource poor communities. Probably the paucity of data or information regarding neonatal health in such areas could be responsible for the seemingly neglect of neonatal health problems. The current study will help bridge the information gap by establishing the trends, causes and outcomes of neonatal cases in the Tamale Teaching
Neonatal admission generally refers to the admission of newborns under 29 days old into a health facility for medical care. Because neonates are fragile and yet to develop competent immune system, they are prone to infections and most of the illnesses they acquire usually require critical care, hence their admission to the neonatal and intensive care units (NICU) (Gupta et al., 1993). Neonatal infections may begin in-utero, early in labour or postpartum (U.N IGME, 2014).
Factors influencing neonatal admissions include socio-cultural effects and bahaviours such as illiteracy, socioeconomic deprivation, traditional beliefs, gender bias and change resistance (W.H.O, 2006). In addition, premature birth, and genetic defects such …show more content…
The World Bank Report (2015) reveals that Ghana had a stable neonatal death rate of 30% from 2010 to 2013, with a marginal decline to 29% in 2014. It has been reported that neonatal deaths are high in poverty stricken regions and the northern region is among the poorest regions in Ghana, and contributing 59% neonatal death rate to the over 60% infant death rate occurring in the first month of life nationally in 2011(GSS, 2011). It is therefore hypothesized that the region will have relatively high neonatal death. Establishing the pattern, causes and outcomes of neonatal admissions in the Tamale Teaching Hospital will be essential in informing policy interventions aimed at reducing neonatal …show more content…
The reason for this observation is multifaceted which include inadequate infrastructure for neonatal care and limited gynaecologic and neonatologic specialists care. Even though several policy interventions have been rolled out to curb under –five health complications, neonatal associated health problems still remain a major public health challenge, especially in resource poor communities. Probably the paucity of data or information regarding neonatal health in such areas could be responsible for the seemingly neglect of neonatal health problems. The current study will help bridge the information gap by establishing the trends, causes and outcomes of neonatal cases in the Tamale Teaching