Publication:

Relationship between gestational age and mode of delivery with neonatal septicemia

Background Newborn infants are at much higher risk for developing sepsis than children and adults because of their immature immune system especially premature infants. In spite of the efforts of Government and non-government sectors, neonatal sepsis constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates of this region. Our aim of study was to find out the relationship between gestational age and mode of delivery with neonatal septicaemia.

Methods A hospital based study was done between 1st June 2014 to 31st May 2015 at NICU of tertiary care center, Indore. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected from bed side. Chi square test and Binary logistic regression were used for the analysis. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results Among the 399 NICU patients studied, our study showed male(62.4%) preponderance as compared to female(37.6%) in neonatal infection, out of which 35.3% cases were reported to be neonatal septicaemia making male(37.8%)more prevalent than female(31.3%). Preterm were having 1.49 [CI (0.95, 2.35)] times risk of developing septicaemia as compared to term neonates (p<0.05). Patients under study showed 83.5% were born with normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and 16.5% via caesarean section, among this neonates born via NVD is 2.29[CI=(1.22,4.3)] times more risk of developing NNS as compared to caesarean section(p<0.05).

Conclusions The analysis shows that neonatal infection is having more preponderance with preterm male neonates, born with normal vaginal delivery. Keeping in view these facts, a comprehensive but achievable and sustainable program should be implemented to reduce neonatal septicaemia.