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. 2019 Aug 8;85(1):112.
doi: 10.5334/aogh.2541.

Newborn Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Why is Perinatal Asphyxia Still a Major Cause?

Fatima Usman  1   2 , Abdulazeez Imam  3 , Zubaida L Farouk  1   2 , Aliyu L Dayyabu  4   5
Affiliations

Newborn Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Why is Perinatal Asphyxia Still a Major Cause?

Fatima Usman et al. Ann Glob Health. .

Abstract

Global new-born mortality has shown steady decline over the last two decades, but this decline has been slowest in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a major cause of new-born deaths in this region and as such SSA now contributes a disproportionate large percentage of global asphyxia-related deaths. In this paper, we examine regional challenges affecting primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of PA and proffers locally adaptable solutions to these identified challenges.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map showing 46 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and their populations (in thousands). Data—United Nations World Population Prospects 2019.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Stacked bar chart showing mortality burden estimates for perinatal asphyxia as a proportion of total neonatal mortality burden for 45 Sub-Saharan African countries. Data Source: Reproduced from World Health Organization Disease burden and mortality estimates: Cause specific mortality 2016.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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