TITLE:
Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Newborns Aged More than 34 Weeks Gestational Age Managed for Birth Asphyxia in Douala (Cameroon): A Single Hospital-Based Study
AUTHORS:
Diomède Noukeu Njinkui, Dominique Enyama, Yolande Djike Fokam, Danie L. Nanga Mewolo, Christelle Annick Ngo Kana, Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou, Charlotte Eposse Ekoube, Arielle Annick Sime Tchouamo, Paul Olivier Koki Ndombo, Danièle-Christiane Kedy Koum
KEYWORDS:
Perinatal Asphyxia, Newborn, Neurological Outcome, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.13 No.6,
November
8,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Perinatal asphyxia is a common cause of mortality and of morbidity
including motor and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the post-hospital outcome of neonates treated for perinatal
asphyxia at the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) in
Cameroon. Patients and Methods: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study with both a
retrospective and prospective data collection, conducted over a period of 3
months and involving neonates above 34 weeks of gestational age who were
managed for perinatal asphyxia at DGOPH from August 2015 to February 2020.
Socio-demographic, perinatal, motor, nutritional and neuro-developmental
out-of-hospital data were recorded. The assessment of the child’s psychomotor
development was evaluated through gross
motor skills, fine motor skills, language and social contact. We calculated the
development quotient (DQ) by dividing the developmental age (DA) by the actual
age (RA) of the patient. The data were entered and analyzed using excel and
Stata version 15 software. Results: Among the 58 newborns included in our study, males were the most
represented (59%). The mean age was 36.5 ± 14.16 months (Extremes: 12 months and 66 months).
The majority of patients were born at term (79%), had a birth weight between
2500 and 4000 grams (69%), were resuscitated (95%), and had an Apgar score th minute of life (67%). SARNAT stages II and III counted
for 48%. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities were found in 25.5% of patients with
gross motor delay (mainly tetraparesis) representing 23.5%, fine motor delay
27.5%, impairment in social contact 31% language speech delay. The majority of
the children had a normal development quotient (78.4%). Conclusion: The short-term and long-term outcome of newborns who
experienced perinatal asphyxia in our setting is marked by numerous impairments
in developmental milestones leading to disability.