Objectives To determine the prevalence and risk factors for neonatal jaundice among neonates admitted in three large hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. Design Hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study. Setting Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of three tertiary hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. Participants 423 neonates admitted in NICUs and their mothers. Results The overall prevalence of neonatal jaundice was 30.26%. Results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the risk of neonatal jaundice was highest for neonates of mothers aged more than 35 years (adjusted OR (AOR): 6.03, 95% CI: 2.46 to 15.13), mothers who had prolonged labour (AOR: 3.29, 95% CI: 1.79 to 6.08) and those delivered vaginally (AOR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.56 to 4.97) compared with caesarean section. The risk of neonatal jaundice was lower for male neonates (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.76) and higher for neonates who had ABO incompatibility (AOR: 22.26, 95% CI: 3.54 to 249.62), rhesus (Rh) incompatibility (AOR: 14.10, 95% CI: 1.11 to 2021.73) and neonatal sepsis (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.15 to 3.39). Conclusions Higher maternal age, prolonged labour, blood group ABO incompatibility, Rh incompatibility and neonatal sepsis are significant risk factors for neonatal jaundice. Efforts for prevention and timely management of ABO and Rh incompatibility, prolonged labour and neonatal sepsis are required to reduce cases of neonatal jaundice. Special attention should be given to newborns of older mothers and those born through vaginal delivery as they are at higher risk of developing neonatal jaundice. Further research is needed to conclusively identify the role of neonatal sex as a risk factor for neonatal jaundice.

Introduction . Despite the global decrease, the neonatal mortality rate has remained high in sub-Saharan Africa, including Somalia. There is a need to continually identify and localize the drivers of neonatal mortality to help policy interventions aimed at its reduction. This study estimated the prevalence of and factors associated with Neonatal Mortality among newborns attending Banadir Hospital 2023. Methods . A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1435 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Banadir Hospital from January to December 2023, and data were extracted from the medical charts and through a structured questionnaire administered to the parents. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with neonatal mortality. Results . The median age of the neonates was 1 (IQR: 1-6) days, 59.4% (853/1435) were male, 54.5% (782/1435) were born at Banadir Hospital, 25.6% (95% CI: 23.5-28.0, 368/1435) newborns died before discharge. The median age of the mothers was 27 years (IQR: 23-30) years. The majority of the mothers 1127 (78.5%) were multiparous, 50.7% (728/1435) had no ANC follow-up, and 79.4% of the neonates stayed at the hospital <7 days. Mother’s education (aOR: 0.01; 95% CI: 0.01-0.05), parity (aOR: 9.7; 95%: 5.33-17.7), age of the baby (aOR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.13-0.39), gestational age (aOR: 7.12; 95% CI: 2.61-19.33), history of chronic disease (aOR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.06-0.41) and History of abortion (aOR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.11-0.31) were significantly associated with neonatal mortality. Conclusion . The prevalence of neonatal mortality is high. Neonatal mortality was associated with mother’s education, parity, prematurity, history of abortion, history of chronic disease, and being less than 7 days of life. Improved maternal education, early management of preterm birth, and newborn illnesses should be priorities for reducing neonatal deaths.

Introduction: Child mortality is a critical global health indicator, reflecting a nation’s development and healthcare quality. Despite significant progress in reducing child mortality globally, Somalia continues to experience high rates, particularly among infants and young children, due to preventable and treatable conditions. Malnutrition, birth complications, and infectious diseases are the leading causes of death. This study aims to analyze the demographic and mortality patterns of hospitalized children at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, to identify key factors contributing to pediatric mortality and propose actionable solutions. Objective: To assess and analyze the trends in pediatric mortality over the past two years at a national referral hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study Setting: Pediatric department at Banadir hospital in Mogadishu Somalia Participants: 1,443 children admitted to the pediatric department Results: The overall pediatric mortality rate during the study period was 5.3%. Male children accounted for 56.5% of deaths, while females represented 43.5%. Infants under one year were disproportionately affected, contributing to the majority of deaths. The primary causes of death were birth asphyxia (10.33%), severe acute malnutrition (29.04%), and preterm (13.65%). The majority of deaths occurred between two to five days and within the first 24 hours after admission, respectively. Mortality was significantly associated with younger age groups, particularly neonates. Conclusions: In order to reduce Somalia’s high rate of pediatric mortality, the results highlight the urgent need for better healthcare services and focused interventions. Enhancing maternal and neonatal healthcare, strengthening pediatric emergency care, and addressing malnutrition through community-based programs are critical. Increasing vaccination coverage and improving timely referral systems are also essential to prevent deaths from avoidable conditions. These strategies, if implemented effectively, can contribute to a substantial decline in preventable child deaths in Somalia.