PERINATAL ASPHYXIA: Epidemiological, Clinical, Aetiological and Prognostic Aspects at Ziguinchor Regional Hospital (ZRH)/Senegal

Author(s): François Niokhor Diouf*, Ndongo Pn, Amadou Sow, Toure Fk, Senghor S

Introduction: Birth asphyxia is one of the leading cause of neonatal deaths in developing countries like Senegal. Our objective was to study the socio demographic, clinical, aetiological and prognostic aspects of birth asphyxia at Ziguinchor regional hospital.

Material and methods: This was a descriptive analytical retrospective study of newborns medical records admitted at Ziguinchor regional hospital’s neonatology department from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

Results: A total of 211 files of birth asphyxia were studied. Prevalence of asphyxia was 12, 8% of neonatal hospitalisations and 3, 6% of maternity births. The mothers’ average age was 32 years old, 75.94% were married and 75% unemployed. 51% of them came from rural areas, 31% illiterate, 44,8% primigravida and 46,92% primiparous. Midwives followed 94,78% of mothers who gave birth vaginally in 68,8% of cases. 47,87% had dystocia. 50% of mothers had hypertension.78,4% of asphyxiated babies were in born. 63,4% of cases had yellow tinted amniotic fluid, 86,26% a cephalic presentation. The sex ratio was 2.05. Newborn average weight was 2760 g. Average hospitalisation time was 5,2 days. Digestive (60,66%) and respiratory distress (34,60%) were the main complications. 24,3% of asphyxiated newborns had developmental delay of which 5.93 % died with cerebral palsy before 2 years old.

Conclusion: More efforts and interventions should be made to reduce morbidity and mortality of birth asphyxia at Ziguinchor regional hospital.