TITLE:
Outcomes for Premature Babies Weighing More than 1000 g in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study of 237 Cases in Dakar
AUTHORS:
Yaay Joor Koddu Biigé Dieng, Amadou Sow, Djénéba Fafa Cissé, Gisèle Feza Muhemeri, Ndèye Fatou Sow, Aminata Mbaye, Awa Kane, Guillaye Diagne, Papa Moctar Faye, Ousmane Ndiaye
KEYWORDS:
Prematurity > 1000 g, Hypothermia, Neonatal Transfer, Neonatal Mortality, Kangaroo Mother Care, Dakar
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
13,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: This paper aims to analyze morbidity, predictors of mortality, and growth kinetics in moderate and late preterm infants (>1000 g) in a tertiary referral center in Senegal. Patients and Method: It was a descriptive, retrospective, and analytical, single-center study (January 2019-April 2021) including 237 preterm infants (29 - 36 weeks’ gestation) weighing > 1000 g. Factors associated with death were identified by bivariate analysis (Chi-2, p Results: Of 281 admissions for prematurity, the >1000 g cohort accounted for 84.3%. The maternal profile was marked by precariousness (54% of low socioeconomic status) and vascular pathologies (43.6%). Neonatal transfer presented a major paradox: although 93.7% of newborns were transported by ambulance, 72.6% were admitted with hypothermia. Morbidity was dominated by jaundice (64.9%), anemia (41.3%), and respiratory distress (50.6%). The hospital mortality rate was 21.1%. The prognostic factors significantly associated with death were: hypothermia (OR = 0.29; p = 0.005), respiratory distress (p = 0.000), and jaundice (OR = 2.0; p = 0.03). Antenatal corticosteroid therapy was administered in only 24% of cases. Catch-up growth using the kangaroo method was effective (mean gain of 18.2 g/kg/day), resulting in a mean weight of 7900 g at 12 months of corrected age. Conclusion: Mortality remains high and is correlated with preventable factors. Optimizing the warm chain during transfers and widespread use of antenatal corticosteroid therapy are urgent imperatives.