[Usefulness of neonatal exams at Cotonou University Hospital, Benin].

AIM: To determine the rate of systematic examination completion, the characteristics of the newborns and the diseases that they bore.

METHOD: It was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted on newborns that were received for systematic examination from January 1rst 2008 through December 31rst 2009. Consultations were performed by pediatricians. The data that were collected, included in details the rate of implementation of the systematic examination, the neonates demographic characteristics, detected diseases and risk factors.

RESULTS

In 2 years, 1325 infants were seen for systematic examination in the neonatal unit of National Teaching Hospital of Cotonou. The global completion rate was estimated to 52%. Newborns were categorized as healthy, at risk of illness or ill in respectively 35.54%, 11% and 53% of cases. The diseases that were found encompassed jaundice (78%), neonatal infections (15%), antenatal growth retardation (12%), prematurity (10%) and birth defects (4.50%). Out of 707 sick newborns, 139 had been hospitalized with a fatal outcome in only one.

CONCLUSION

The newborns systematic examination is useful. We do think that it should be generalized if we hope to reduce the neonatal mortality rate in Sub-.Saharan African countries.