Am J Perinatol 2012; 29(08): 649-656
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314885
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Neonatal Death in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: A Global Network Study

José M. Belizán
1   Institute for Clinical Effectiveness, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
Elizabeth M. McClure
2   Research Triangle Institute, Durham, North Carolina
,
Shivaprasad S. Goudar
3   Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, India
,
Omrana Pasha
4   Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
,
Fabian Esamai
5   Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
,
Archana Patel
6   Lata Medical Research Foundation and Indira Medical College, Nagpur, India
,
Elwyn Chomba
7   University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
,
Ana Garces
8   San Carlos University, Guatemala City, Guatemala
,
Linda L. Wright
9   Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Marion Koso-Thomas
9   Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Janet Moore
2   Research Triangle Institute, Durham, North Carolina
,
Fernando Althabe
1   Institute for Clinical Effectiveness, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
Bhala S. Kodkany
3   Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, India
,
Neelofar Sami
4   Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
,
Albert Manasyan
7   University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
,
Richard J. Derman
10   Christiana Health Care, Newark, Delaware
,
Edward A. Liechty
11   Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
Patricia Hibberd
12   Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Waldemar A. Carlo
13   University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
K. Michael Hambidge
14   University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado
,
Pierre Buekens
15   Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
,
Alan H. Jobe
16   University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
,
Robert L. Goldenberg
17   Columbia University, New York, New York
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

03 December 2011

25 February 2012

Publication Date:
29 May 2012 (online)

Abstract

Objective To determine population-based neonatal mortality rates in low- and middle-income countries and to examine gestational age, birth weight, and timing of death to assess the potentially preventable neonatal deaths.

Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in communities in five low-income countries (Kenya, Zambia, Guatemala, India, and Pakistan) and one middle-income country (Argentina). Over a 2-year period, all pregnant women in the study communities were enrolled by trained study staff and their infants followed to 28 days of age.

Results Between October 2009 and March 2011, 153,728 babies were delivered and followed through day 28. Neonatal death rates ranged from 41 per 1000 births in Pakistan to 8 per 1000 in Argentina; 54% of the neonatal deaths were >37 weeks and 46% weighed 2500 g or more. Half the deaths occurred within 24 hours of delivery.

Conclusion In our population-based low- and middle-income country registries, the majority of neonatal deaths occurred in babies >37 weeks' gestation and almost half weighed at least 2500 g. Most deaths occurred shortly after birth. With access to better medical care and hospitalization, especially in the intrapartum and early neonatal period, many of these neonatal deaths might be prevented.

 
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