ASSESSMENT OF NEONATAL OUTCOME IN BOOKED AND UNBOOKED PREGNANCY CASES IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Abstract

Majority of neonatal deaths occurs in low and middle income countries indicating poor quality of health services provided by the government of the respective countries.In a developing country like India , a high morbidity and mortality serves as an sensitive indicator reecting the poor maternal and child health care services of the country.Most of the neonatal deaths can be attributed to avoidable factors which can be minimized by the effective utilization of antenatal services , early detection of high risk pregnancy and timely referral of these cases.The current study was conducted to determine the neonatal outcomes in booked and unbooked pregnancy cases in the tertiary care centre ,Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh. METHODS: Close ended structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the parents (150 booked and 150 unbooked).Neonatal outcomes were categorised under groups of term and preterm ,live birth and stillbirts, birthweight, Gestational age, iugr, large for gestational age APGAR score ,NICU admissions and clinical course during hospital stay,course during rst 28 days of life along with complications,if any are all taken into consideration. RESULTS: During the study period 28.67% had low birth weight in booked cases and 41.33% had low birth weight in unbooked cases.The incidence of stillbirth and early neonatal deaths were 2%,4% respectively in booked cases and 4.67% , 6% respectively in unbooked cases.Higher incidence of MSL,prematurity ,birth asphyxia ,respiratory problems ,birth injuries,congenital malformations,infections and hyperbilirubinemia were seen in unbooked cases. CONCLUSIONS: The inference derived from the study ,showed that availability of antenatal care is directly proportional to the neonatal outcome .Thus unavailbility or lack of proper medical attention during the pregnancy results in unfavourable neonatal outcomes which can be prevented by increasing the range of availability , utilization and effectiveness of maternal and child health services alongwith ensuring booking of all the pregnancy cases in our country.