Causes of neonatal and postneonatal mortality in Nigerian children

Abstract

Although infant mortality has decreased drastically in developed countries, the situation is still far from satisfactory in many developing countries. In Nigeria for example, the infant mortality rate currently ranges from 90 per 1000 in urban areas to as high as 100 per 1000 in rural areas. This study was undertaken to ascertain the causes of infant deaths among Nigerian children and to determine the relative contributions of neonatal and post neonatal mortality to the infant mortality. During the one ‐ year study period #opMay, 1987 April, 1988#cp a total of 754 deaths were recorded in the study hospital. The leading causes of death during the neonatal period were neonatal jaundice and prematurity‐accounting for Proportionate Mortality Ratios of 23.0 and 18.7 respectively. Gastroenteritis marasmus#shkwashiokor were the major contributors to post‐neonatal mortality #opPMRs, 14.7 and 11.4#cp. Post‐neonatal mortality accounted for 36 percent of the total infant mortality. Implications of these findings to ...