Tetanus Neonatorum: its Associated Risk Factors and Mortality Rate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | [Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences • 2023]

Author(s):

1. FARID ULLAH: Department of Pediatrics, Gomal Medical College Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

2. FARMAN ULLAH: Department of Pediatrics, Gomal Medical College Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

3. TAJ MUHAMMAD: Department of Pediatrics, Gomal Medical College Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

4. RIDA NAZ: Regional Blood Centre, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

5. MUBARIK ALI: National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad-54000-Pakistan

6. NORINA JABEEN: Department, Institute of Social Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract:

Background: Tetanus neonatorum is a preventable cause of mortality and neurological squeal that is more prevalent in resource-poor nations, perhaps because to low rates of mother immunization and unclean cord care procedures. Objectives: The study was conducted in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to investigate the prevalence of tetanus neonatorum, its associated risk factors and mortality rate. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the year 2020-22, through evaluation of the hospital records of 185 tetanus infected neonates, for the assessment of acute risk factors and clinical outcome of the infection. Results: It was found that a significantly higher proportion (p<0.05) of the infected were neonatal fetuses of age less than ten days with the incidence of 83.24%. High mortality rate of 31.35% was observed in the infected infants in which 58 out of 185 infected infants did not survive. Most of the infected patients (p<0.05) were born at home (129/185), through vaginal birth (104/185) and delivered in unhygienic environment (156/185). A significantly high number of women were not immunized against the tetanus infection (p<0.05) and fetal umbilical cords were not managed aseptically and were cut with used razors (12.97%) and fastened with unhygienic threads (38.37%), rendering them vulnerable to the fatal infections. Conclusion: It was concluded that poor tetanus toxoid immunization of the mothers and unhygienic conditions were likely causes.

Page(s): 551-553

DOI: 10.53350/pjmhs2023171551

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, Volume: 17, Issue: 1, Year: 2023

Keywords:

Immunization , Umbilical cord , Unhygienic deliveries , Deep wounds

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