Abstract:
Background: Neonatal sepsis is the most serious problem in neonates, resulting in significant
morbidity and mortality. Globally 6.9 million neonates were diagnosed with possible serious
bacterial infection needing treatment and 2.6 million of these occurred in sub Saharan Africa
(SSA). Sepsis is the commonest cause of neonatal mortality and is probably responsible for
30-50% of the total neonatal deaths each year in developing countries.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate, treatment outcome and associated factors of
neonatal sepsis at Mizan Tepi university teaching hospital, south west Ethiopia.
Method: Hospital based prospective observational study was conducted at Mizan Tepi
University Teaching Hospital from May to October. Data was collected by using semistructured questionnaires for interviewing mothers of the patients, and checklists for which
abstraction of information from patients chart, these adapted from review of related
literatures. Data was collected by four data collectors. Bivariate and multivariate Cox
regression used to analyze the association between dependent and independent variables and
P-value <0.05 at 95% CI was declared statistically significant association. Finally statement,
tables, charts and graphs were used for data presentation.
Result: Of 211 neonatal sepsis patients, 110 (52.1%) were females, 161(76.3%) were
admitted with late onset of sepsis, 16 (7.6%) were very low birth weight, and 156(73.9%)
were term (37–42 weeks). Most, 165 (78.2%) neonates were treated with ampicillin plus
gentamycin. About 143 (67.8%) were discharged with good outcome after completing the
treatment, 68(32.2%) were discharged with poor outcome, of these, 31 (14.7%) were died,
12(5.7%) complicated, 12(5.7%) deteriorated, 8(3.3%) self-discharged and 6(2.8%) were
referred. Very low birth weight [P=0.006, AHR=1.692, 95% CI: (1.245, 4.36)], age of
neonate less than 4 days at admission [P= 0.001, AHR=9.67, 95%CI: (2.24, 41.70)], maternal
infection [P=0.032, AHR=3.186, 95%CI: (1.32,30.68)], prolonged length of hospital stay
[(P= 0.017, AHR=12.29, 95%CI: (1.55, 96.31), were significantly associated to mortality.
Conclusion: This study indicated that neonatal sepsis was the frequently occurring neonatal
disease. Mortality rate of neonatal sepsis was found to be high. Age of neonate <4 days, birth
weight of the neonate < 1500gm, prolonged length of hospital stay, maternal infection during
pregnancy were found to be independently associated with mortality
