Objectives: To assess the morbidity pattern and mortality among preterm infants admitted in Level – 3 NICU of a teaching hospital of a backward district of Kerala and to analyze the quality neonatal survival and cause of death in such preterm neonates.

Methods: A retrospective study of all preterm infants admitted in the level – 3 NICU of a teaching hospital for a period of one year from 01/01/2017 based on hospital records. This includes both inborn and out born babies. Gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, birth weight, major congenital anomalies, number of deaths and causes of deaths are recorded. Data are entered in Microsoft excel and data are correlated for any significance. 

Results: A total of 141 infants born below completion of 34 weeks of gestation were includedin the study. 8 infants (6%) were of extremely low birth weight out of which only one died in the hospital. Six infants (4.25%) died during NICU
stay. Major morbidities were present in 84% of all infants, and multiple morbidities were present in 66% infants. 

Conclusions: In a level 3 NICU of a teaching hospital 6% of babies were of extremely low birth weight and all except one survived. Death and morbidity are directly related to gestational age.

Keywords: Preterm Infants; Gestational Age; Neonatal Asphyxia.