PERINATAL ASPHYXIA: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NONCOMPLIANCE IN THE SPECIALIZED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

Perinatal asphyxia is a leading cause of preventable brain injury. Between four and nine million newborns develop birth asphyxia. It is estimated that 1.2 million evolve to death and at least the same number develops important disabling neurological sequels. These children need to be accompanied by experts, especially in the first year of life. The continuity of care after hospital discharge should be guaranteed so that there is follow-up care to those who are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. To identify factors associated with dropout of outpatient specialized treatment of children diagnosed with perinatal asphyxia. The study was conducted in neonatal care clinic specializing in a reference hospital for high-risk births in the state of Sergipe. 98 children with perinatal asphyxia discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of this hospital participated in the study. Results: the children who were followed up were between two months to two years old, and predominantly male 69. Ten children were discharged at age 24 months and had important neurological sequels. Thirty-one children were discharged aged 10 to 20 months without deficit and 35 remained in regular monitoring. There was a record of 22 cases of noncompliance, before the sixth medical consultation. Among the reasons for the doctor following the abandonment of the follow-up service, there were more reasons regarding the absence of symptoms (and distance from home). The absence of symptoms and distance from the capital were associated with the abandonment of outpatient treatment of anoxic children. Outpatient services should be organized to minimize the follow-up abandon situations.