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. 2012 Sep;29(8):649-56.
doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1314885. Epub 2012 May 29.

Neonatal death in low- to middle-income countries: a global network study

José M Belizán  1 , Elizabeth M McClure, Shivaprasad S Goudar, Omrana Pasha, Fabian Esamai, Archana Patel, Elwyn Chomba, Ana Garces, Linda L Wright, Marion Koso-Thomas, Janet Moore, Fernando Althabe, Bhala S Kodkany, Neelofar Sami, Albert Manasyan, Richard J Derman, Edward A Liechty, Patricia Hibberd, Waldemar A Carlo, K Michael Hambidge, Pierre Buekens, Alan H Jobe, Robert L Goldenberg
Affiliations

Neonatal death in low- to middle-income countries: a global network study

José M Belizán et al. Am J Perinatol. 2012 Sep.

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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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a. Neonatal Mortality Rates by Birth Weight b. Neonatal Mortality Rates by Gestational Age
Figure 1
Figure 1
a. Neonatal Mortality Rates by Birth Weight b. Neonatal Mortality Rates by Gestational Age
Figure 2
Figure 2
a. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Birth Weight by Region b. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Gestational Age by Region
Figure 2
Figure 2
a. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Birth Weight by Region b. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Gestational Age by Region
Figure 3
Figure 3
a. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Birth Weight b. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Gestational Age
Figure 3
Figure 3
a. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Birth Weight b. Proportion of Neonatal Deaths by Gestational Age
Figure 4
Figure 4
Timing of Neonatal deaths
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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