Bakground: Perinatal asphyxia is one of the three major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, along with prematurity and neonatal sepsis. The study was conducted with the aim to describe the means of diagnosis and treatment, as well as, the outcome of management in a developing country in order to contribute to reduce the neonatal
morbidity and mortality associated with this major public health problem.
Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from 1 January 2019 to 31 October 2021 at the neonatology unit of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
(West Africa). All neonates with an Apgar score of less than 7 at the 5 minute of birth were included.
Results: The incidence of perinatal asphyxia was 22.3%. Hypoglycaemia (40.4%), hypocalcemia (14.4%), hypernatremia
(10%), hyperkalemia (34.5%), acidosis (25.1%), and renal failure (82%) were reported. Transfontanellar ultrasound
revealed hemorrhagic (58%) and anoxic-ischemic (23.9%) lesions. Normal discharges accounted for 69.5% of cases. The case fatality rate was 29.9% and sequelae were observed in 26.7% of cases.
Conclusion: In order to improve the management of perinatal asphyxia and reduce its impact on neonatal mortality
in our developing countries, the technical resources of our hospitals should be strengthened.

Newborn; Perinatal asphyxia; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Controlled hypothermia; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neonatal deaths.