ObjectiveTo describe the patient population, priority diseases and outcomes in newborns admitted Study designIn a network of seven secondary and tertiary level neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya, we captured anonymised data on all admissions Results2280 newborns were admitted. Mean birthweight was 2.3 kg (SD 0.9); 57.0% (1214/2128) infants were low birthweight (LBW; ConclusionGreater efforts are needed to address the very high burden of illnesses and mortality in hospitalized newborns in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions need to address priority issues during pregnancy and delivery as well as in the newborn.
