Respiratory Distress in Neonates at the Teaching Hospitals of Lomé, Togo

Introduction: Respiratory distress in neonates is a neonatal emergency that can lead to serious complications if not treated appropriately. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, the diagnostic, and the outcomes of neonatal respiratory distress. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the pediatric wards of Lomé Teaching Hospitals (CHU Sylvanus Olympio and CHU Campus), including neonates treated for respiratory distress (dyspnea associated with the use of accessory muscles of respiration, noisy breathing and with or without cyanosis) from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Data were entered using Epi Data 3.1 and SPSS software version 12.0. Results: The total number of neonates hospitalized for respiratory distress was 353, with a frequency of 12.5% and a sex ratio of 1.5. The mean age was 0.82 ± 3.20 days;the 0 - 6-day age group accounted for 92.4% of cases. Neonates had been resuscitated at birth in 46.7% of cases. Dyspnea was tachypnea in 94% of cases and bradypnea in 6%. Dyspnea was associated with cyanosis in 21.5% of cases. The severity of the respiratory distress was moderate in 64.9% of cases. Perinatal asphyxia (49.1%), inhalation pneumonitis (17.1%) and neonatal bacterial infection (14.1%) were the main etiologies. The mortality rate was 20.4%. Age greater than or equal to seven days, no neonatal resuscitation were protective factors against death. Prematurity, no antenatal consultations follow up, neonatal resuscitation, severe respiratory distress were risk factors of death. Conclusion: Neonatal respiratory distress was common in the early neonatal period and its mortality was high.

Practices of Maternity’s Care Providers in the Municipality of Kozah 1 Regarding the Administration of Vitamin K1, Eye Care, and Umbilical Cord Care in Immediate Postpartum Newborns

Background: Neonatal mortality is a real public health problem in the world and particularly in countries with limited resources. Essential care remains an effective means of reducing this mortality. Objective: To evaluate the practice of administering of vitamin K1, ocular and cord care in maternity wards in the Kozah 1 municipality. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from March 1st to June 30th, 2022 in all maternity wards in the Kozah 1 municipality. Socioprofessional aspects of providers and those related to the administration of vitamin K1, ocular and cord care were studied. Results: Eighty-five (85) maternity providers were included in this study. The average age of the providers was 36.2 years with extremes of 21 and 55 years. Providers were midwives (51.8%), childbirth attendants (35.3%), and matrons (12.9%). The average length of practice was 9.5 years with extremes of 1 and 28 years. For three out of four providers (75.3%), the postpartum period was defined as a period of 02 hours following delivery. The importance of cord, ocular care, and administration of vitamin K1 in postpartum was known respectively by 84.7%, 98.8%, and 92.9% of the providers. Chlorhexidine gel was used by 81.2% of providers for umbilical cord care. For ocular disinfection, more than half of the providers (52.9%) reported using half-diluted povidone iodine. No center had displayed care protocol. Conclusion: This study highlighted the level of knowledge and practice of three essential postpartum care practices. The products used for the different care practices are consistent with recommendations but vary according to the care providers.