If babies could choose where to be born, countries like Nigeria would not be high on the list.  A baby born premature in the country today  is several times more likely to die on the day of birth than a baby born full term.

A Professor of Paediatrics at the Neonatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, CMUL/LUTH, Prof. Chinyere Ezeaka  describes neonatal death as a big health issue in Nigeria.

In a presentation entitled Prematurity and Role of Kangaroo Mother Care for Preterms, she disclosed that newborn mortality remains one of Nigeria’s major health challenges.

“Each year an estimated 240,000 newborn babies die in their first month of life out of approximately 7 million annual deliveries or 650 per day. In addition are about 314,000 stillbirths annually

“Nigeria ranks the highest in Africa in terms of the number of neonatal deaths and second globally. Newborn deaths contribute 32 per cent of U-5 mortality.

She said causes range from prematurity, birth asphyxia, infections, neonatal jaundice, and others.

“If a baby has the opportunity to choose the best time to be born, it is 39 weeks of gestation provided there are no complications in mother and baby. For instance, a baby’s brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 39 to 40 weeks.

“Every week away from 39 weeks significantly adds to the risk of problems in the baby and the probability of death in the newborn period. Giving a rundown of the magnitude of the problem, Ezeaka said each year, 11 per cent of the world’s babies are born too soon resulting in about 15 million preterm babies.

Nigeria ranks 3rd among the countries with the highest number of preterm births globally with an annual preterm birth rate of about 773,600.

Preterm birth &neonatal death

“Preterm is a cause of death and risk factor to neonatal mortality; 31 per cent  of newborn deaths in Nigeria are directly due to complications of preterm birth that when combined with effects of low birth weight is an indirect cause in up to 80 percent of newborn deaths in Nigeria.”

She lamented that underlying causes of preterm births include poverty and poor literacy, poor or no antenatal care attendance, not utilizing family planning and poor access to a skilled health provider among others.

The annual societal economic cost of newborn deaths is huge. A study in Nigeria reported  that the immediate cost of care in the newborn period of these preterm babies was $211 – $1594.

Also, hospital stay  is nine times longer for a preterm (13 days) compared to term babies(1.5 days). Worse still, the time lost in work and pay during the period of caring for the babies is unquantifiable.

According to Ezeaka,  emphasis should be on prevention of premature birth. “There must be early and good antenatal care to identify and manage high risk pregnancies appropriately to prevent preterm delivery.

“Up to 80 per cent of newborn deaths are among small babies yet most health facilities cannot care for them. Hence Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is critical if preterm delivery occurs.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/kangaroo-mother-care-saves-newborns-n...