Analysis on mortality among moderate to late preterm infants born in Lempira province, the Republic of Honduras, from January 2015 to June 2017

Yuichi Kodaira; Takaharu Ikeda; Yasuhiko Kamiya; Naoe Sato; Yuko Otomo; Sakura Aoyama; May Yoshikawa

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Analysis on mortality among moderate to late preterm infants born in Lempira province, the Republic of Honduras, from January 2015 to June 2017

VernacularTitle:Analysis on mortality among moderate to late preterm infants born in Lempira province, the Republic of Honduras, from January 2015 to June 2017
Author: Yuichi KODAIRA ¹ ; Takaharu IKEDA ² ; Yasuhiko KAMIYA ³ ; Naoe SATO ⁴ ; Yuko OTOMO ³ ; Sakura AOYAMA ³ ; May YOSHIKAWA ³
Author Information

1. AMDA Multisectoral & Integrated Development Services
2. Perinatal Medical Center, Funabashi Central Hospital
3. IC-Net Inc.,
4. School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University
Keywords: neonatal mortality; preterm birth; moderate to late preterm infants; hyaline membrane disease; the Republic of Honduras
From:Journal of International Health 2019;34(1):19-25
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Objective Preterm birth is the major cause for neonatal deaths in low and middle income countries. The aim of this report is to evaluate the proportions of deaths of moderate to late preterm infants born at 32 to 36 weeks of gestations as well as the neonates with low birth weights weighing from 1500g to 2499g among the total neonatal deaths and analyze their causes of deaths in Lempira province, the Republic of Honduras. Study design A secondary analysis based on the data sets from the regional office of Ministry of Health.Methods We obtained data sets on infant mortality from January 2015 to June 2017 compiled by a regional office of Ministry of Health in Lempira province. We then calculated proportions of each cause of death in the groups of newborn infants stratified by gestational weeks and birth weights.Results During the study period, a total of 253 neonatal deaths were recorded, comprising 66.9% of the total infant deaths (n=378). The number of the newborn infants who died during early neonatal period was 201 (79.4%). The number of preterm newborn infants who died during neonatal period was 146 (57.7%) and 70 (27.6%) were born at moderate to late preterm periods. 103 (40.7%) were born with their birth-weights below 2500g, and the number of those weighing from 1500g to 2499g were 61 (24.1%). The leading cause of deaths of moderate to late preterm infants was hyaline membrane disease (n=25/48: 52.1%), as was the case with low birth weight infants weighing from 1500g to 2499g. Conclusion It was shown that approximately one fourths of neonatal deaths occurred in moderate to late preterm infants in Lempira province during the study period. Approximately half of these preterm infants died of hyaline membrane disease, who could have been saved with simple and low-cost equipment such as bubble continuous positive airway pressure.