Neonatal Tetanus in Federal Medical Center, Ido-Ekiti, South West Nigeria in a five year Retrospective Study

Neonatal Tetanus, though a preventable disease through simple measures, still remains a cause of neonatal mortality in Nigeria. Methodology: This was a review of all cases of neonatal tetanus in Federal Medical Centre, Ido- Ekiti between January 2007 and December 2012. It was performed using patients’ case notes and the diagnosis of tetanus was clinical in all cases. Results: There were six patients admitted during the five- year period. The mean age was 7.7 days. There were 5 females (83.3%) and 1 male (16.7%). The average number of days spent on admission in the hospital was 15.2 days with the minimum being 1 day and the maximum 33 days. The mean age at which the first spasm occurred was at 7.5 days. Only 1 (16.7%) was delivered in a health facility, 67.7% had fomentation done on their umbilical cords, 33.3% had septic umbilical cords only 1 (16.7%) was delivered in a health facility. Three of the patients were delivered in religious centres called mission homes. Five (83.3%) of the mothers were teenagers and unmarried, 2 (33.3%) had partial antenatal care, 4 (67.7%) had no antenatal care while none of them received up to 2 doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine. The case fatality rate was 50%. Conclusion: Teenage motherhood, poor antenatal care, inadequate immunization of mothers with tetanus toxoid vaccine and poor umbilical cord care are identified as risk factors for neonatal tetanus. It should be ensured that gender equality campaigns are strengthened, traditional birth attendants trained in issues of maternal and child health, and immunization campaigns for mothers and neonates improved.