Neonatal mortality rate: relationship to birth weight and gestational age.

A total of 2063 live births were studied during one year period from July 1994 to June 1995. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) was 35.4 per thousand live births. The case fatality rate among low birth weight and preterms was 10.1% and 18.1% respectively. Though, low birth weight babies accounted for 27.8% of the live births but contributed for 79.5% of neonatal deaths [p < 0.001]. Similarly, preterm babies accounted for 13.2% of the live births but contributed for 69.9% of neonatal deaths [p < 0.001]. The causes of neonatal deaths found were birth asphyxia (31.1%), infections (23.3%), immaturity (17.8%), hypothermia (9.6%), hyaline membrane disease (2.7%) and cogenital malformation (1.4%). There is need to identify strategies to reduce the incidence of prematurity and low birth weight babies. Comprehensive antenatal coverage and adequate care followed by optimal management of newborns at birth is likely to reduce NMR and improve quality of life among survivors.