TITLE:
Neonatal Tetanus at Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Bangui
AUTHORS:
Jean Chrysostome Gody, Marie Christine Awa Sepou Yanza, Olivier Brice Bogning Mejiozem, Victoire NGatimo, Franck Houndjahoué, Vanessa Iris Gaspiet Sonny, Evodie Pierrette Kakounguere, Baptistine Anguize, Aymard Trésor Guénefio, Aristide Prince Mbeko, Moyen Engoba, Georges Moyen
KEYWORDS:
Neonatal Tetanus, Childbirth, Mortality, Bangui
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.2,
May
26,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background: Despite the
Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) elimination initiative, neonatal tetanus still
persists in some parts of the world. Objectives: To determine hospital prevalence
and describe epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and outcome aspects of neonatal
tetanus at the Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Bangui. Methodology: It was
the review of hospitalized newborns’ files in the neonatal unit at Pediatric Teaching
Hospital in Bangui between January 2016 and December 2019. Newborns discharged with
tetanus diagnosis, and whose files were usable were included. The variables studied
were: for the newborn: age, sex, birth weight, the reason for transfer, diagnosis,
cause and time of death, place and method of delivery; for the mother: age, antenatal
care, tetanus vaccine status, parity and geographical provenance. Epi Info 7 software,
version 7.1.3.3 was used for data analysis. The chi2 test with the significance
level set at p Résultats: Forty-eight (48) out of 5796 newborns had neonatal tetanus (0.8%). They were newborns to mothers with an average age of 18.8 years of which 68.8% (n
= 33) were primipara and 87.5% (n = 42) not vaccinated against tetanus. Childbirth
happened at home in 91.7% (n = 44), and the blade was used for sectioning the umbilical
cord in 39.6% (n = 19). Newborns were referred from rural area in 47.9% (n = 23).
A single antenatal care contact was done in 68.7% (n = 33). Tetanus was classified
as severe according to the Dakar prognosis score between 4 and 6 in 89.6% of cases
(n = 43). The death occurred in 58.3% (n = 28). Conclusion: The high frequency
of neonatal tetanus as well as its severity requires pregnancy follow-up strengthening and childbirth monitoring
in order to its elimination. But primary prevention relies on improving individual
and general hygiene conditions.