Introduction: A country’s health is measured in terms of infant mortality. India accounts for 24% of global neonatal mortality. The neonatal care was revolutionized after the inception of NHM. After reduction in neonatal mortality rate, the goal is to reduce the morbidity of neonates by disease specific intervention. It is important to study the mortality and morbidity pattern as it helps to implement new treatment protocols, interventions, planning and policy making which helps in better survival and improvement in the quality of life among survivors. So, this study aims at identifying the morbidity and mortality pattern in a secondary care SNCU of a Regional Hospital.

Methodology: Hospital data based retrospective study from August 2016 to January 2018.

Results: Total of 868 neonates were analyzed. Male: female ratio was 1.45:1. Low birth weight babies accounted 34% and pre-term babies around 28%. Jaundice requiring photo therapy (42.5%) topped the list of morbidities followed by sepsis (12.9%) and respiratory distress (5.6%). Ninety one percent (91%) neonates were discharged and mortality in this study was 0.46%.

Conclusion: Neonatal jaundice, Sepsis and respiratory distress were the leading causes of morbidity. Neonatal sepsis can be prevented by enforcing strict hand hygiene and aseptic protocols. Low birth weight and prematurity were the significant contributors to morbidity and mortality. Hence antenatal programs to prevent prematurity and low birth weight babies should be strengthened.

Keywords: Neonate, Morbidity, Mortality, SNCU.

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Shikha Verma

Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics Dr RPGMC Kangra H.P India