Worldwide, more than one million youngsters pass away annually within their first month of life (neonatal death), with 99% of such instances occurring in low-income nations. Preventing these tragedies is a global priority to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and implement the United Nations Global Strategy for Women, Children, and Adolescent health. A specific area of concern is Rwanda, where approximately 71% of neonatal deaths are considered preventable, with neonatal sepsis contributing to around 10% of these avoidable fatalities. To address this, a detailed study was conducted at the Kibungo Referral Hospital in Ngoma District, Rwanda, with the specific aim of understanding the prevalence and causes of neonatal sepsis in this nation.
Researchers conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study, examining neonatal, maternal, and laboratory records from Kibungo Hospital from 2017. The data helped identify factors linked to neonatal sepsis, with key variables like neonatal age and gestational age emerging as significant contributors to sepsis occurrence. Of the 972 total neonates’ medical records from 2017, a random sample of 422 was selected. Among these, 12.8% (or 54) had neonatal sepsis. The study found that neonatal sepsis was strongly associated with neonatal age less than or equal to three days and gestational age less than 37 weeks.
Limitations in resources might pose an increased risk for neonatal sepsis, especially in rural hospitals serving poorer communities. Preventative actions and improvements in sepsis management could lead to better patient outcomes. Blood testing, surface cultures of neonatology and maternity wards facilities, and regular ward cleaning are proposed as vital tools to prevent and treat neonatal infections alongside routine checkups for sepsis.
However, sepsis diagnosis delays and inadequate treatment, possibly due to low availability of blood culture testing, are also significant challenges. The study revealed that blood cultures were only performed for 25 of the 54 suspected cases of sepsis, likely due to long intervals in sending and receiving culture results. Such comprehensive understanding of neonatal sepsis in Rwanda through localized studies will aid in mapping efficient strategies to tackle this preventable health concern.