Aim: Neonatal mortality rate is a good indicator to show the developmental status of a country. The aim was to assess mortality rate and causes of death in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital.
Material and Methods: All infant deaths occurred in one year period between 2017 and 2018 at Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital NICU were retrospectively reviewed and causes of death and mortality rate were examined.
A total of 189 (9.4%) infants died in the study period. Most common cause of death was prematurity and associated conditions (49.2%) followed by perinatal asphyxia (16.4%) and congenital anomalies (12.7%). In term infants perinatal asphyxia (36.9%), congenital anomalies (16.9%) and acute bilirubin encephalopathy (12.3%) were the three leading causes of death. The median age of death was 3 (1-240) days. Most of the deaths (73%) occurred in the early neonatal period.
Conclusion: Prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, congenital anomalies and severe hyperbilirubinemia are the leading causes of neonatal mortality in Sanliurfa. Measures for antenatal follow-up, diagnosis of antenatal risk factors, early neonatal follow-up and certification of health staff in delivery room would contribute for reduction of neonatal mortality in southeast region of Turkey.
Key words: Neonate; Mortality Rate; Prematurity.
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