Trends in Neonatal Jaundice Management at a Secondary Health Facility in Osun State, South West Nigeria

Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common conditions requiring medical attention in the first week of life. Untreated or inadequately managed hyperbilirubinaemia can result in severe neurological sequelae, including kernicterus. This retrospective descriptive study analyses trends in neonatal jaundice presentation, management, and outcomes at a secondary health facility in Osogbo, Osun State, South West Nigeria, over a three-year period from January 2021 to December 2023. Case files of 178 neonates admitted with clinically significant jaundice were reviewed. Data collected included gestational age, birth weight, age at presentation, bilirubin levels, underlying aetiology, treatment modality, and clinical outcomes. Physiological jaundice was the most common type (48.3%), followed by jaundice secondary to ABO and rhesus incompatibility (22.5%) and G6PD deficiency (17.4%). Phototherapy was the principal treatment, administered in 86.5% of cases. Exchange transfusion was required in 9.0% of cases, all involving severe hyperbilirubinaemia. Delayed presentation beyond 72 hours of life was associated with a higher frequency of exchange transfusion (p less than 0.05). Case fatality rate was 3.4%. Challenges identified included irregular phototherapy lamp maintenance and limited bilirubin monitoring equipment. Recommendations include strengthening neonatal jaundice screening protocols at birth, ensuring phototherapy equipment functionality, and educating caregivers on early recognition of jaundice. Keywords: neonatal jaundice, phototherapy, hyperbilirubinaemia, Osun State, South West Nigeria.