Investigation on the Prevalence of Hypoglycaemia in Newborns at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

This prospective descriptive study was conducted at the labour room and the Special Care Baby Unit
of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, between July 2017-
March 2018. Of the 168 neonates, 140 (83.3%) were delivered in the hospital and 28 (16.7%) were
delivered outside the hospital. Hypoglycaemia was found in 19 (11.0%) of the neonates. The mean
(standard deviation) of gestational age was 37.8 (3.0) weeks. 91 (54.2%) were males and 77 (45.8%)
were females. Male to female ratio is 1.2:1. A significantly higher proportion of 9 (32.1%) out born
compared with 10 (7.1%) of inborn, 4 (44.4%) of birth < 1500 g compared with 5 (22.7%) birth weight
1500 g - 2499 g and 10 (7.3%) of birth weight ≥ 2500 g and 7 (22.6%) of babies with temperature ≤
36.5°C compared with 7 (6.3%) of temperature 36.5°C - 37.5°C and 5 (19.2%) of temperature >
37.5°C, demonstrated hypoglycaemia respectively. There were no statistically significant associations
between maternal risk factors and hypoglycaemia. The common presenting symptoms were
jitteriness, cyanosis, tachypnoea, hypotonia, apnoea, temperature instability, seizure and lethargy.
The prevalence of hypoglycaemia was 11.0% in the present study. Gestational age, low birth weight
and respiratory distress were risk factors documented for neonatal hypoglycaemia. The maternal risk
factors associated with hypoglycaemia in the present study were not statistically significant. The
commonest clinical manifestations of neonatal hypoglycaemia were tachypnoea and seizures.