Clinical profile of admitted sick neonates at special newborn care units in Odisha, India

Background: The facility-based newborn care (FBNC) program is a strategic program that improves newborn health status in India. We described the morbidity and mortality portfolios of SNCU graduates. Methods: Using data from the SNCU online database(https://sncuindiaonline.org), we carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study of newborns received care at SNCUs of 10 aspirational districts (District-Hospitals) in Odisha for four calendar years, 2020–2023. We profiled the admissions by age, gender, weight, maturity, place of delivery and morbidity and described critical outcomes like mortality, referral and discharge. Results: A total of 69847 newborns were admitted. Males were predominant (40530,58%). Outborn were more than Inborn (35422,51%). Preterm was 48.5% (n=33886). 31632 (45%) were in LBWs (1500-2499 gm). HIE/Birth Asphyxia (n=19814, 28%) was the major morbidity of the SNCU graduates. The median average duration of stay was four days (0-98 days). Out of all admitted, 77% (n=53612) got discharged, 11% were referred, 9% died and 3% were Left Against Medical Advice. The top cause of mortality was Birth Asphyxia (n=2711, 42%). Conclusions: Asphyxia prevention and management requires immediate attention and can be achieved through community-based interventions to raise the awareness level of the intended beneficiaries and better capacity building of health workers.