Neonatal outcomes of immigrant and Turkish preterm infant treated in a level-3 neonatal intensive care unit; A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: Evaluate neonatal outcomes of immigrant preterm babies and compare them with Turkish preterm babies in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in the NICU of Necmettin Erbakan University between October 2015 and October 2019. Antenatal, natal and postnatal outcomes of prematurity infants were evaluated and compared.
RESULTS: Maternal age (p<0.001), antenatal follow-up (p<0.001), antenatal steroid use (p<0.001), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (p=0.03) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (p=0.05) were statistically higher in the Turkish patients. The rates of breast-feeding (p<0.01) and kangaroo mother care (p<0.01) were found higher among Turkish mothers. On the other hand, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) rate (p=0.002) was found higher among immigrant babies. Duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen supply were similar for both groups; however, the duration of nazal-continue positive air way pressure use was longer in the Turkish patients (p=0.01).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, immigrant mothers were young and their antenatal follow-ups were insufficient. While rate of hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit and, following this, NEC rate were higher in immigrant preterm infants, respiratory distres syndrome (RDS), PDA and BPD were more commonly encountered in Turkish preterm infants.