Neonatal Anemia in Two Pediatric Reference Centers in Dakar (Senegal)

Introduction: The exact definition of neonatal anemia varies between authors and sample sites. The objective was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and progressive characteristics of neonatal anemia. Methodology: This was a retrospective and descriptive study over a 16-month period from January 2023 to April 2024. Any newborn aged between 0 and 28 days of life, regardless of the term at birth, with a hemoglobin level below 14 g/dl was included. Our study was carried out in two pediatric departments: the Abass Ndao Hospital Center (CHAN) and the Dalal National Hospital Center Jamm (CHNDJ). Results: A total of 308 cases were collected. The hospitalization rate was 15.4%. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.7. Pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia (10.4%), and anemia in the first trimester (9.4%), were the main pathologies of pregnancy. Preventive iron intake was effective in all mothers. 21 mothers (6.81%) had received a blood transfusion. The notion of anemia in siblings was found in 15 newborns, or 4.9%. Prematurity was 37.3%. More than half of the newborns were delivered vaginally. Retroplacental hematoma was the most common adnexal pathology found at 7.8%. Mucocutaneous pallor was found in 56.5% of patients. Hemorrhage was the most common cause, at 31.8%. For the newborns, 46.5% received a blood transfusion. The death rate was 12%. Premature babies accounted for 33% of deaths. Septic shock was the most common cause of death. Conclusion: Neonatal anemia is common in our setting with a high mortality rate. It is important to strengthen preventive strategies against maternal anemia, infection and adnexal hemorrhages.