Effect of Antenatal Betamethasone on Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Neonates

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is one of the most common complications that cause the death among pre-term neonates (PNs). Use of Antenatal betamethasone is the effective intervention for the prevention of RDS and reducing early neonatal mortality and morbidity. Although there is limited information as to how effective this practice in developing countries. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of betamethasone on RDS in PNs. We conducted a prospective, observational multi-centered study at Gynecology and Obstetrics, Neonatal department of two teaching hospitals in South India over a period of 6 months. All babies born alive before 37 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The study population included 70 PNs and they were classified into three based on the consumption of betamethasone (no dose, single dose and double dose). Among them, 28(40%) belonged to no dose, 25(35.7%) in single dose and 17(24.2) in double dose. Neonates whose mothers received two doses of betamethasone had a significantly lower incidence of RDS (P=0.043) than neonates whose mothers received a single dose of betamethasone (P=0.343). We concluded that a single complete course of betamethasone (Two doses of betamethasone 12mg 24 hours apart) is efficacious than one dose of betamethasone in prevention of RDS.