Characteristics & outcomes of tribal & non-tribal neonates admitted to a special newborn care unit in rural Gujarat, India.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the admission characteristics and outcomes of tribal and non-tribal neonates admitted to a level II special newborn care unit (SNCU) in rural Gujarat.

METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study that looked at all neonates admitted to a high-volume SNCU between 2013 and 2021. A series of quality improvement measures were introduced over the study period. Admission characteristics, such as birth weight, gestational age, gender and outcomes for tribal and non-tribal neonates, were compared.

RESULTS: Six thousand nine hundred and ninety neonates [4829 tribal (69.1%) and 2161 (30.9%) non-tribal] were admitted to the SNCU. Tribal neonates had lower mean birth weight (2047 vs. 2311 g, P<0.01) and gestational week at birth (35.8 vs. 36.7 weeks, P<0.01) compared to non-tribal neonates. Common causes of admissions were neonatal jaundice (1990, 28.4%), low birth weight (1308, 18.7%) and neonatal sepsis (843, 12%). Six hundred and thirty-eight (9.1%) neonates died during the treatment in the SNCU. The odds of death among tribal neonates was similar to non-tribal neonates [adjusted odds ratio: 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89, 1.42)]. The tribal neonates had significantly higher cause-specific case fatality rate from sepsis [relative risk (RR): 2.18 (95% CI: 1.41, 3.37)], prematurity [RR: 1.98 (95% CI: 1.23, 3.17)] and low birth weight [RR: 1.83 (95% CI: 1.17, 2.85)]. The overall case fatality rate in the SNCU decreased from 18.2 per cent during the year 2013-2014 to 2.1 per cent in the year 2020-2021.

INTERPRETATION CONCLUSIONS: There was a reduction in the case fatality rate over the study period. Tribal and non-tribal neonates had similar risk of death. Sepsis prevention and management, mechanical respiratory support and timely referral to a higher centre might help further reduction in mortality for these neonates.