BACKGROUND: Worldwide approximately 4 million newborns die each year. Three quarters of the neonatal deaths happen in the first week after birth. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to study the factors associated with early neonatal deaths and the clinical causes of these deaths. METHODS: A retrospective record review of all early neonatal deaths among the live births was conducted at Yekatit 12 Hospital for the period of Oct. 2006- Sep. 2007. RESULTS: There were 2301 live births with 59 early neonatal deaths making the mortality rate 25.6 per 1000 live births. Early neonatal deaths were higher in males, in neonates with low birth weight, low apgar score and maternal age of 40 years and above compared to their counterparts, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most of the factors associated with early neonatal deaths can be corrected with proper perinatal care. Training of midwives on neonatal resuscitation techniques will help reduce early neonatal deaths.
BACKGROUND: Worldwide approximately 4 million newborns die each year. Three quarters of the neonatal deaths happen in the first week after birth. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to study the factors associated with early neonatal deaths and the clinical causes of these deaths. METHODS: A retrospective record review of all early neonatal deaths among the live births was conducted at Yekatit 12 Hospital for the period of Oct. 2006- Sep. 2007. RESULTS: There were 2301 live births with 59 early neonatal deaths making the mortality rate 25.6 per 1000 live births. Early neonatal deaths were higher in males, in neonates with low birth weight, low apgar score and maternal age of 40 years and above compared to their counterparts, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most of the factors associated with early neonatal deaths can be corrected with proper perinatal care. Training of midwives on neonatal resuscitation techniques will help reduce early neonatal deaths.