Abstract
Background: It has been estimated that 27.8 million neonates will die worldwide between 2018 and 2030 if no improvements in neonatal and maternal care take place. The aim of this study was to determine the rate, risk factors, and causes of neonatal mortality in Jordan.Methods: In August 2019, an electronic stillbirths and neonatal deaths surveillance system (JSANDS) was established in in three large cities through five hospitals. Data on all births, neonatal mortality and their causes, and other characteristics in the period between August 2019 and January 2020 were exported from the JSANDS and analyzed.Results: A total of 10,328 births [10,226 live births (LB) and 102 stillbirths] were registered in the study period, with a rate of 14.1 deaths per 1,000 LBs; 76% were early neonatal deaths and 24% were late deaths. The odds of deaths in the Ministry of Health hospitals were almost 21 times (OR = 20.8, 95% CI: 2.8, 153.1) higher than that in private hospitals. Low birthweight and pre-term babies were significantly more likely to die during the neonatal period compared to full-term babies. The odds of neonatal mortality were significantly higher among babies born to housewives compared to those who were born to employed women (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.2, 6.0). Main causes of neonatal deaths that occurred pre-discharge were respiratory and cardiovascular disorders (43%) and low birthweight and pre-term (33%). The main maternal conditions that attributed to these deaths were complications of the placenta and cord, complications of pregnancy, and medical and surgical conditions. The main cause of neonatal deaths that occurred post-discharge were low birthweight and pre-term (42%).Conclusions: The rate of neonatal mortality have not decreased since 2012 and the majority of neonatal deaths occurred could have been prevented. Regular antenatal visits, in which any possible diseases or complications of pregnant women or fetal anomalies, need to be fully documented and monitored with appropriate and timely medical intervention to minimize such deaths.
Highlights
It has been estimated that 27.8 million neonates will die worldwide between 2018 and 2030 if no improvements in neonatal and maternal care take place
It has been estimated that 27.8 million neonates will die between 2018 and 2030 [1] if no improvements in neonatal mortality take place
Stillbirth, or a neonatal death occurred within the five hospitals and entered into the JSANDS system were included in the study
Summary
It has been estimated that 27.8 million neonates will die worldwide between 2018 and 2030 if no improvements in neonatal and maternal care take place. The aim of this study was to determine the rate, risk factors, and causes of neonatal mortality in Jordan. Neonatal mortality is a public health problem worldwide primarily in low- and middle-income countries. It has been estimated that 27.8 million neonates will die between 2018 and 2030 [1] if no improvements in neonatal mortality take place. A study conducted in 186 countries revealed that the risk of early neonatal death is very high across a range of countries and contexts [3]. According to the Jordan Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality study [5], the neonatal mortality rates was 14.9 per 1,000 live births (LB)
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