The Prevalence of Neonatal Near Misses in Rabat, Morocco

Background: The concept of near-miss neonatal (NMN) is a potentially useful approach in assessing the quality of newborn care. However, data collected on the status of NMN cases in Morocco is scarce. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of NMN cases among live births at the University Hospital of Rabat, Morocco. Materials and methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 2676 newborns born at the University Hospital of Rabat, Morocco, and admitted to the National Reference Center of Neonatology and Nutrition (NRCN) from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The main inclusion criteria were the pragmatic and/or management markers of the definition of NMN. Data were extracted using a structured, pre-tested checklist, entered into EpiData, and exported to Statistical Software for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), and descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Among the 2676 selected live births, 2367 were NMN cases (88.5%; 95% CI: 88.3-90.7). More than half of new mothers (57.5%) were referrals, 59.9% of women were multiparous, and 78.5% had under four prenatal care consultations. Obstetric problems affected 373 of the women during pregnancy. A pragmatic criterion was met in 43.6% of NMN situations. Among the management criteria, the use of intravenous antibiotics was the most common factor at 56.0%. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of NMN. Therefore, concerted efforts are needed to improve maternal health care services, including early identification of complications and appropriate management.