Adziri H Sackey1, Lily G Tagoe2. 1. Department of Child Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. 2. Department of Child Health, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are established as an effective method of reducing preterm morbidity and mortality. At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), a tertiary referral centre in Ghana, it is recommended that a course of ACS should be given to mothers before delivery between 24 weeks to 34 weeks gestation. OBJECTIVES: The study was performed primarily to determine the level of adherence to guidelines on administration of ACS. METHODS: All babies with gestational ages up to 34 weeks admitted to the neonatal unit (NICU) during the period of the study were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: There were 214 eligible admissions during the study period, of which 93 babies (43%) were studied due to poor access to medical records. Dexamethasone was the only steroid used, and mothers of 65 (70%) of the 93 babies received at least one dose; 17 (18%) received only one dose, 35 (38%) - 2 doses, 9 (10%) - 3 doses, and 4 (4%) - 4 doses. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown a low uptake of antenatal corticosteroids, similar to other low-income and middle-income countries. To improve preterm survival and morbidity, there is an urgent need to increase the use of corticosteroids before preterm deliveries in Ghana and other low-income and middle-income countries. FUNDING: Not indicated.
BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are established as an effective method of reducing preterm morbidity and mortality. At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), a tertiary referral centre in Ghana, it is recommended that a course of ACS should be given to mothers before delivery between 24 weeks to 34 weeks gestation. OBJECTIVES: The study was performed primarily to determine the level of adherence to guidelines on administration of ACS. METHODS: All babies with gestational ages up to 34 weeks admitted to the neonatal unit (NICU) during the period of the study were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: There were 214 eligible admissions during the study period, of which 93 babies (43%) were studied due to poor access to medical records. Dexamethasone was the only steroid used, and mothers of 65 (70%) of the 93 babies received at least one dose; 17 (18%) received only one dose, 35 (38%) - 2 doses, 9 (10%) - 3 doses, and 4 (4%) - 4 doses. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown a low uptake of antenatal corticosteroids, similar to other low-income and middle-income countries. To improve preterm survival and morbidity, there is an urgent need to increase the use of corticosteroids before preterm deliveries in Ghana and other low-income and middle-income countries. FUNDING: Not indicated.
Authors: Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman; Elizabeth A Thom; Sean C Blackwell; Alan T N Tita; Uma M Reddy; George R Saade; Dwight J Rouse; David S McKenna; Erin A S Clark; John M Thorp; Edward K Chien; Alan M Peaceman; Ronald S Gibbs; Geeta K Swamy; Mary E Norton; Brian M Casey; Steve N Caritis; Jorge E Tolosa; Yoram Sorokin; J Peter VanDorsten; Lucky Jain Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2016-02-04 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Fernando Althabe; José M Belizán; Elizabeth M McClure; Jennifer Hemingway-Foday; Mabel Berrueta; Agustina Mazzoni; Alvaro Ciganda; Shivaprasad S Goudar; Bhalachandra S Kodkany; Niranjana S Mahantshetti; Sangappa M Dhaded; Geetanjali M Katageri; Mrityunjay C Metgud; Anjali M Joshi; Mrutyunjaya B Bellad; Narayan V Honnungar; Richard J Derman; Sarah Saleem; Omrana Pasha; Sumera Ali; Farid Hasnain; Robert L Goldenberg; Fabian Esamai; Paul Nyongesa; Silas Ayunga; Edward A Liechty; Ana L Garces; Lester Figueroa; K Michael Hambidge; Nancy F Krebs; Archana Patel; Anjali Bhandarkar; Manjushri Waikar; Patricia L Hibberd; Elwyn Chomba; Waldemar A Carlo; Angel Mwiche; Melody Chiwila; Albert Manasyan; Sayury Pineda; Sreelatha Meleth; Vanessa Thorsten; Kristen Stolka; Dennis D Wallace; Marion Koso-Thomas; Alan H Jobe; Pierre M Buekens Journal: Lancet Date: 2014-10-15 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Grace Liu; Joel Segrè; A Gülmezoglu; Matthews Mathai; Jeffrey M Smith; Jorge Hermida; Aline Simen-Kapeu; Pierre Barker; Mercy Jere; Edward Moses; Sarah G Moxon; Kim E Dickson; Joy E Lawn; Fernando Althabe Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2015-09-11 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Antônio José Ledo Alves da Cunha; Karina Bilda de Castro Rezende; Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira; Silvana Granado Nogueira da Gama; Maria do Carmo Leal Journal: Rev Paul Pediatr Date: 2021-09-01