Risk Of Neonatal Death Research Articles

Idiopathic Polyhydramnios and Pregnancy Outcome: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Amniotic fluid volume (AFV) is examined via ultrasound often several times in pregnancy and can be an indicator of the overall health of a fetus. However, disorders of amniotic fluid can arise without complications for the fetus; excess of amniotic fluid without any accompanying fetal conditions is referred to as idiopathic polyhydramnios. Previous research has shown conflicting results with regard to outcomes related to idiopathic polyhydramnios, with some finding it increases adverse outcomes and others reporting an increase in adverse outcomes only in moderate or severe cases. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis meant to assess the relationship between idiopathic polyhydramnios and perinatal outcomes for singleton pregnancies. Eligibility criteria included studies that had a control group with normal AFV and defined polyhydramnios as an amniotic fluid index of 24 cm or greater or a single deepest pocket of 8 cm or greater. Similar methods of defining polyhydramnios were considered as long as they were evidence-based. Studies with known causes of polyhydramnios were excluded to ensure cases analyzed for this study were idiopathic. The primary outcome was intrauterine fetal demise, with secondary outcomes of neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, macrosomia, 5-minute Apgar score, malpresentation, and cesarean delivery. Final review and analysis included 12 articles, with a total of 2392 patients with idiopathic polyhydramnios and 160,135 patients with normal AFV. Risk of bias was determined to be low for these studies, although the comparability was not well-defined. Analysis for the primary outcome included 8 of the 12 studies and showed that the risk of intrauterine fetal demise was increased in those with idiopathic polyhydramnios (odds ratio [OR], 7.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.50–23.38). Secondary outcome analysis for neonatal death showed that individuals with polyhydramnios were 8.68 times more likely to experience neonatal death than controls (95% CI, 2.91–25.87). Examining other secondary outcomes, the association between NICU admission and idiopathic polyhydramnios showed that patients with polyhydramnios were more likely to be admitted to the NICU (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.45–2.59). When assessing 5-minute Apgar scores, results showed that individuals with polyhydramnios were more likely to have an Apgar score of less than 7 (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.34–3.62). In addition, rates of cesarean delivery were significantly higher with idiopathic polyhydramnios (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.79–2.99), as was macrosomia (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 2.39–3.59). Malpresentation was also higher in the polyhydramnios group than in the control group (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 2.06–3.61). The authors of this meta-analysis conclude that in pregnancies with idiopathic polyhydramnios, there is an elevated risk of both intrauterine fetal demise and neonatal death. In addition, all other negative pregnancy outcomes analyzed were more common in pregnancies affected by idiopathic polyhydramnios. One limitation of this review is the heterogeneity inherent in analyzing many studies with different sample characteristics and different analysis methods. Although efforts were made to reduce bias, there is some inherent bias that cannot be accounted for completely. Further research is needed to fully characterize the clinical implications of the increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes shown here. This study also showed an increased risk based on the current clinical threshold for polyhydramnios, but more data are needed on accurate AFV thresholds and the clinical implications stemming from various thresholds.

THE EFFECT OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (LBW) ON NEONATAL DEATH IN GORONTALO CITY

Indonesia is a developing country with high maternal and infant mortality rates. One of the causes of infant mortality in Indonesia is the incidence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) of 38.85%. The number of neonatal deaths in Gorontalo City between 2018 - 2021 is 83 cases. The novelty of this research is the effect of LBW on neonatal death. This study aims to see the impact of LBW on neonatal mortality in Gorontalo City after controlling for maternal risk factors in the form of a history of complications and the frequency of ANC. The research design used was analytic with a case-control approach. The sample in this study consisted of 30 cases and 60 controls. The results of the survey show that from the effects of bivariate analysis, the history of complications variable has an Odds Ratio Crude value of 55 and an Odds Ratio Adjusted of 13 and the Mantel-Haenszel test value: p-value α (0.000 0.05). In contrast, Antenatal Care has an Odds Ratio Crude value of 28 and Odds Ratio Adjusted by 17 and the value of the Mantel-Haenszel test: p-value α (0.000 0.05). The Odds Ratio value for LBW is 20 with a p-value α (0.000 0.05). This study concludes that LBW has a 20 times risk of neonatal death (95% CI = 6.506 – 61.485)

In-utero GBCA-MRi exposure: no increased risk of fetal or neonatal death

In-utero GBCA-MRi exposure: no increased risk of fetal or neonatal death

Impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes of twin gestation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) on outcomes of twin gestations is not clear. We aimed to collate data via this meta-analysis to examine how HDP alters maternal and neonatal outcomes of twin gestations. Studies comparing pregnancy outcomes of twin gestations based on HDP and published on the databases of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase between 1 January 2000 to 20 March 2023 were eligible for inclusion. Twelve studies were included. A cumulative of 355,129 twin gestations were analyzed in the current meta-analysis. The pooled analysis found that the presence of HDP increases the risk of preterm birth (OR: 1.86 95% CI: 1.36, 2.55 I2 = 99%) and cesarean section in twin gestations (OR: 1.36 95% CI: 1.20, 1.54 I2 = 89%). Meta-analysis showed a significantly increased risk of low birth weight (OR: 1.30 95% CI: 1.10, 1.55 I2 = 97%), small for gestational age (OR: 1.30 95% CI: 1.09, 1.55 I2 = 96%) and neonatal intensive care unit admissions (OR: 1.77 95% CI: 1.43, 2.20 I2 = 76%) with HDP in twin gestations. There was no difference in the incidence of 5-min Apgar scores <7 (OR: 1.07 95% CI: 0.87, 1.38 I2 = 79%) but a lower risk of neonatal death (OR: 0.39 95% CI: 0.25, 0.61 I2 = 62%) with HDP. HDP increases the risk of preterm birth, cesarean sections, low birth weight, SGA, and NICU admission in twin gestations. Contrastingly, the risk of neonatal death is reduced with HDP. Further studies are needed to corroborate the current results. PROSPERO (CRD42023407725).

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with and without a history of specialist mental health care: a national population-based cohort study using linked routinely collected data in England

Pregnant women with pre-existing mental illnesses have increased risks of adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes compared with pregnant women without pre-existing mental illnesses. We aimed to estimate these differences in risks according to the highest level of pre-pregnancy specialist mental health care, defined as psychiatric hospital admission, crisis resolution team (CRT) contact, or specialist community care only, and the timing of the most recent care episode in the 7 years before pregnancy. Hospital and birth registration records of women with singleton births between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2018 in England were linked to records of babies and records from specialist mental health services provided by the England National Health Service, a publicly funded health-care system. We compared the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal and neonatal death, preterm birth, and babies being born small for gestational age (SGA; birthweight <10th percentile), and composite indicators for neonatal adverse outcomes and maternal morbidity, between women with and without a history of contact with specialist mental health care. We calculated odds ratios adjusted for maternal characteristics (aORs), using logistic regression. Of 2 081 043 included women (mean age 30·0 years; range 18-55 years; 77·7% White, 11·4% South Asian, 4·7% Black, and 6·2% mixed or other ethnic background), 151 770 (7·3%) had at least one pre-pregnancy specialist mental health-care contact. 7247 (0·3%) had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, 29 770 (1·4%) had CRT contact, and 114 753 (5·5%) had community care only. With a pre-pregnancy mental health-care contact, risk of stillbirth or neonatal death within 7 days of birth was not significantly increased (0·45-0·49%; aOR 1·11, 95% CI 0·99-1·24): risk of preterm birth (<37 weeks) increased (6·5-9·8%; aOR 1·53, 1·35-1·73), as did risk of SGA (6·2- 7·5%; aOR 1·34, 1·30-1·37) and neonatal adverse outcomes (6·4-8·4%; aOR 1·37, 1·21-1·55). With a pre-pregnancy mental health-care contact, risk of maternal morbidity increased slightly from 0·9% to 1·0% (aOR 1·18, 1·12-1·25). Overall, risks were highest for women who had a psychiatric hospital admission any time or a mental health-care contact in the year before pregnancy. Information about the level and timing of pre-pregnancy specialist mental health-care contacts helps to identify women at increased risk of adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. These women are most likely to benefit from dedicated community perinatal mental health teams working closely with maternity services to provide integrated care. National Institute for Health Research.

Association of Maternal Cigarette Smoking with Neonatal Death: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Introduction: Maternal pregnancy smoking has adverse perinatal outcomes and the relationship between maternal smoking and neonatal death has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to examine the risk of neonatal death in relation to maternal smoking and to quantify potential mediators of these associations. Methods: We did a population-based cohort study using Period Linked Birth-Infant Death data from 2016 to 2019 in the US National Vital Statistics System. The exposure was maternal smoking status. The main outcome was neonatal death. Association between maternal smoking and neonatal death was estimated through logistic regression. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the extent to which the association between maternal smoking and neonatal death was mediated by neonatal complications. Results: The final sample consisted of 14,717,020 mothers with live singleton births. The overall neonatal mortality rate was 2.2 per 1,000 live births. Maternal pregnancy smoking was associated with an increased risk of neonatal death {adjusted odds ratio (aOR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.28–1.38]; p < 0.001)}, while smoking cessation during the whole pregnancy showed a comparable risk of neonatal death with nonsmokers (aOR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.99–1.14]; p = 0.116). Mediation analysis indicated that the association between pregnancy smoking and neonatal death might be mainly mediated by preterm birth and low Apgar score at 5 min. Conclusions: Maternal pregnancy smoking, regardless of pregnancy trimester and intensity, was associated with increased risk of neonatal death. Efforts are needed for policymakers to promote smoking cessation before pregnancy, and professional perinatal care should be provided for those who smoked during pregnancy.

Gestational Age and Birth Outcomes in Term Singleton Pregnancies Conceived With Infertility Treatment

Despite the increased perinatal risks associated with pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment, there are no recommendations for timing of delivery among this at-risk population. To identify the gestational age at which the ongoing risks of stillbirth are optimally balanced with the risks of neonatal comorbidities and infant deaths in term singleton pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment. This cohort study used birth and death data from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, in the US obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. Singleton pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment delivered at term (37-42 weeks' gestation) were eligible for inclusion. The exclusion criteria were deliveries at less than 37 weeks' or at least 43 weeks' gestation and pregnancies with unknown history of infertility treatment, congenital anomalies, pregestational diabetes, pregestational hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. Data were analyzed from July 22, 2022, to June 24, 2023. Gestational age at delivery between 37 and 42 weeks. The primary outcome was optimal timing of delivery. To ascertain this timing, the risk of delivery (rate of neonatal morbidity and infant death) at a given gestational week was compared with the risk of delivery in the subsequent week of gestation for an additional week (rate of stillbirth during the given week per 10 000 ongoing pregnancies plus rate of neonatal morbidity and infant death in the subsequent week of gestation per 10 000 deliveries). The rates of stillbirth, neonatal morbidity, and infant death (within 1 year of life) were compared at each week. Neonatal morbidity included an Apgar score of 3 or lower at 5 minutes, requirement of ventilation for 6 hours or more, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and seizures. Of the 178 448 singleton term pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment (maternal mean [SD] age, 34.2 [5.2] years; mean [SD] gestational age, 39.2 [1.2] weeks; 130 786 [73.5%] were non-Hispanic White patients). The risk of delivery in the subsequent week of gestation was lower than the risk of delivery at both 37 weeks (628 [95% CI, 601-656] vs 1005 [95% CI, 961-1050] per 10 000 live births) and 38 weeks (483 [95% CI, 467-500 vs 625 [95% CI, 598-652] per 10 000 live births). The risks of delivery in subsequent week of gestation significantly exceeded the risk of delivery at 39 weeks (599 [95% CI, 576-622] vs 479 [95% CI, 463-495] per 10 000 live births) and were not significant at 40 weeks (639 [95% CI, 605-675] vs 594 [95% CI, 572-617] per 10 000 live births) and 41 weeks (701 [95% CI, 628-781] vs 633 [95% CI, 599-669] per 10 000 live births). Results of this study suggest that, in pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment, delivery at 39 weeks provided the lowest perinatal risk when comparing risk of delivery at this week of gestation vs the subsequent week of gestation.

Pregnant Women's Views Regarding Maternity Facility-Based Delivery at Primary Health Care Facilities in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

For women giving birth, every moment of delay in receiving skilled care significantly increases the risks of stillbirth, neonatal and maternal death. More than half of all births in developing countries, including South Africa, take place outside a health facility and without skilled birth attendants. Therefore, this has made it difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of global reduction in maternal mortality, which is a key health challenge globally, especially in developing countries and sub-Saharan Africa in particular. The study aimed to explore and describe the views of pregnant women regarding facility-based delivery. Focus group discussions were used to gather information from pregnant women. Information was collected from six groups of pregnant women who had delivered babies at the primary health care facilities in the past 5 years. Results showed several factors associated with the failure to use institutional delivery services, such as the lengthy distance from the health care facility, lack of transport, lack of transport fare, shortages of skilled staff, failure to disclose pregnancy, cultural and religious beliefs, and staff attitudes.

An in-depth analysis of perinatal related mortality among women of South Asian ethnicity in Aotearoa New Zealand

BackgroundInternational and national New Zealand (NZ) research has identified women of South Asian ethnicity at increased risk of perinatal mortality, in particular stillbirth, with calls for increased perinatal research among this ethnic group. We aimed to analyse differences in pregnancy outcomes and associated risk factors between South Asian, Māori, Pacific and NZ European women in Aotearoa NZ, with a focus on women of South Asian ethnicity, to ultimately understand the distinctive pathways leading to adverse events.MethodsClinical data from perinatal deaths between 2008 and 2017 were provided by the NZ Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, while national maternity and neonatal data, and singleton birth records from the same decade, were linked using the Statistics NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure for all births. Pregnancy outcomes and risk factors for stillbirth and neonatal death were compared between ethnicities with adjustment for pre-specified risk factors.ResultsWomen of South Asian ethnicity were at increased risk of stillbirth (aOR 1.51, 95%CI 1.29–1.77), and neonatal death (aOR 1.51, 95%CI 1.17–1.92), compared with NZ European. The highest perinatal related mortality rates among South Asian women were between 20–23 weeks gestation (between 0.8 and 1.3/1,000 ongoing pregnancies; p < 0.01 compared with NZ European) and at term, although differences by ethnicity at term were not apparent until ≥ 41 weeks (p < 0.01). No major differences in commonly described risk factors for stillbirth and neonatal death were observed between ethnicities. Among perinatal deaths, South Asian women were overrepresented in a range of metabolic-related disorders, such as gestational diabetes, pre-existing thyroid disease, or maternal red blood cell disorders (all p < 0.05 compared with NZ European).ConclusionsConsistent with previous reports, women of South Asian ethnicity in Aotearoa NZ were at increased risk of stillbirth and neonatal death compared with NZ European women, although only at extremely preterm (< 24 weeks) and post-term (≥ 41 weeks) gestations. While there were no major differences in established risk factors for stillbirth and neonatal death by ethnicity, metabolic-related factors were more common among South Asian women, which may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes in this ethnic group.

Relationships between birth weight discordance and maternal and perinatal risks among twin pregnancies conceived following frozen embryo transfer.

Is intertwin birth weight discordance associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes following frozen embryo transfer (FET)? For twins conceived following FET, intertwin birth weight discordance is related to elevated risks of neonatal mortality irrespective of chorionicity, and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is elevated for the mothers of dichorionic twins affected by such birth weight discordance. While the relationships between intertwin birth weight discordance and adverse maternal or fetal outcomes have been studied for naturally conceived twins, similarly comprehensive analyses for twins conceived using ART remain to be performed. This was a retrospective cohort study of all twin births from 2007 to 2021 at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital in Shanghai, China that were conceived following FET (N = 6265). Intertwin birth weight discordance was defined as a 20% difference in neonatal birth weights. The primary study outcome was the incidence of HDP and neonatal death while secondary outcomes included gestational diabetes, placenta previa, placental abruption, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of the membranes, Cesarean delivery, gestational age, birth weight, stillbirth, birth defect, neonatal jaundice, necrotizing enterocolitis, and pneumonia incidence. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs for maternal and neonatal outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the survival probability. The sensitivity analysis was performed with a propensity score-based patient-matching model, an inverse probability weighting model, a restricted cubic spline analysis, and logistic regression models using other percentage cutoffs for discordance. Of 6101 females that gave birth to dichorionic twins during the study interval, birth weight discordance was observed in 797 twin pairs (13.1%). In this cohort, intertwin birth weight discordance was related to an elevated risk of HDP (aOR 1.56; 95% CI 1.21-2.00), and this relationship was confirmed through sensitivity analyses. Hypertensive disease risk rose as the severity of this birth weight discordance increased. Discordant birth weight was also linked to increased odds of neonatal mortality (aOR 2.13; 95% CI 1.03-4.09) and this risk also increased with the severity of discordance. Of the 164 women with monochorionic twins, the discordant group exhibited an elevated risk of neonatal death compared to the concordant group (crude OR 9.00; 95% CI 1.02-79.3). The limitations of this study are its retrospective nature and the fact that the available data could not specify which twins were affected by adverse outcomes. There is a lack of an established reference birth weight for Chinese twins born at a gestational age of 24-41 weeks. These findings suggest that twins exhibiting a birth weight discordance are related to an elevated risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, emphasizing a potential need for higher levels of antenatal surveillance in these at-risk pregnancies. Authors declare no conflict of interest. This study was funded by the Clinical Research Program of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (JYLJ202118) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 82271693 and 82273634). N/A.

The impact of small-for-gestational-age Status on the outcomes in very-Low-birth-weight (VLBW) premature infants: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan.

The impact of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) on very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) premature infants remains inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the effects of being born SGA status on the short-term and long-term outcomes in VLBW preterm infants. We conducted a population-based, prospective cohort study on VLBW preterm infants born in Taiwan between 2012 and 2017. Sociodemographic, neonatal, growth and neurological data at 2 years of corrected age were collected. A total of 4243 VLBW infants born at 24 through 32 completed weeks' gestation participated in this study, of whom 1,005 had SGA status defined as a birth weight <10th percentile of gestation, and 3,238 did not (the non-SGA group).We compared the risks of short-term outcomes (neonatal mortality and morbidities), long-term outcomes (growth status, including weight, height, and head circumference <10th percentile, and neurodevelopmental impairments at 2 years of age). Subgroup analysis was performed by stratification of gestation age (GA): GA 24-26, 27-29 and 30-32 weeks. In the analysis of short-term outcomes, the SGA group had an increased risk of neonatal mortality [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.66, 2.99, and 2.19, respectively] in all GA subgroups in comparison with the non-SGA group (p < 0.05). The SGA group had a significantly increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in GA 27-29 and 30-32 weeks (adjusted OR = 2.11 and 1.86, respectively). We also found that there was an increased risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity in GA 24-26 and 27-29 weeks in the SGA group compared with the non-SGA group (adjusted OR = 1.68 and 1.59, respectively).In the analysis of long-term outcomes, the SGA group had a significantly increased risk of NDI throughout all GA subgroups (adjusted = 1.94, 1.33, and 1.35, respectively) in comparison with the non-SGA group. The SGA groups also had an increased risk of growth status <10th percentile at 2 years of age (p < 0.05). SGA VLBW premature infants had higher risks of neonatal death, growth status <10th percentile, and NDI at 2 years of corrected age compared with the non- SGA premature infants. Prenatal surveillance, postnatal attention, and long- term follow-up are warranted to improve the outcomes of VLBW SGA premature infants.

Hubungan Kelahiran Prematur dengan Kejadian Ikterus Neonatorum pada Bayi Baru Lahir di RSUD

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the infant mortality rate (IMR) in the world in 2012 was 49 per 1000 live births, high risk infant or infant factors that increase the risk of perinatal or neonatal death is one of them is jaundice neonatorum or jaundice. neonatorum is the cause of neonatal death about 20-40% of all deliveries. Based on the results of a preliminary study conducted at the hospital, from 120 cases of premature birth there were 32 cases of neonatal jaundice. This study was to determine the relationship between premature birth and the incidence of neonatal jaundice in newborns. This type of research is correlational analytic with a case control design. The number of samples used in this study is 55 people in the case group and 55 people in the control group. The analysis used is univariate analysis and bivariate analysis. based on the results of statistical test analysis, it was found that in the case group or mothers who experienced premature birth, there were 32 babies (58.2%) who had neonatal jaundice and in the control group or the group of mothers who did not experience premature birth, they got 14.infants or (25.5%) who had neonatal jaundice. the results of the chi square test obtained a p-value of 0.001, it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between premature birth and the incidence of neonatal jaundice. it is hoped that pregnant women will continue to routinely carry out antenatal care to prevent premature birth, for further researchers to be able to look for other variables related to the incidence of neonatal jaundice.

Maternal and Fetal Factors that Affect Preterm Birth at the Professor Ngoerah Central General Hospital

Introduction: Preterm birth occurs in 7-10% of all live births, leading to complications such as low birth weight, asphyxia, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia, which increase the risk of neonatal death. This research aims to prove the influence of maternal factors (age, occupation, marital status, gravida, hypertension) and conception results (number of fetuses and ruptured membranes) on preterm birth. Method: This correlational research, using a cross-sectional approach, was conducted at Prof. Ngoerah Hospital, Bali, in 2021. The study population included all women who gave birth in 2020, fully recorded in medical records, with a total sample size of 997 women, obtained through total sampling. Data were analyzed using crosstabulation, Chi-square test (X²), and binary logistic regression with computer assistance, setting significance at α 0.05. Results: Preterm birth was significantly influenced by maternal age (p=0.001), occupation (p=0.001), blood pressure (p=0.000), and the condition of the amniotic membranes (p=0.000). These factors collectively contributed to 22.7% of the variance in preterm births. Conclusion: Maternal factors such as age, occupation, blood pressure, and amniotic membrane condition significantly influence the incidence of preterm birth. Preventive measures, focusing on education before and during pregnancy, are crucial to reducing the risk of preterm births.

Preterm Delivery and Neonatal Deaths among Anaemic Pregnant Women in the Bolgatanga Metropolis of Ghana.

Preterm deliveries and neonatal deaths as functions of anaemia in pregnancy are of major public health interest. However, data on the prevalence of preterm deliveries and their association with mortality in anaemic pregnant women in the study area are scanty. Thus, the study sought to investigate the prevalence of preterm delivery and neonatal deaths among anaemic pregnant women in the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in the Upper East Region of Ghana during the past five years. A retrospective study design was adopted, and data were gathered between March and May 2016. Records of women who were anaemic during any trimester of their pregnancy and delivered in the hospital within the last five years were included in the study. In all, two hundred (200) cases were reviewed. Data on the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and birth outcome of participants were captured, and analyses were conducted using SPSS version 21 while considering significant differences at p < 0.05. The study revealed that more than half of the anaemic women (52.5%, n = 105) had preterm deliveries, while neonatal mortality was 8.5% (n = 17). The proportion of mothers who received dietary or medical intervention for the treatment of anaemia and the number of attendances to antenatal clinics were comparable between preterm and normal-term mothers (p > 0.05). Mothers with preterm deliveries had a higher risk of neonatal mortality (AOR = 13.66, 95% CI = 1.65-113.30, and p=0.015). This study has shown that anaemia in pregnancy increases the risk of preterm delivery and neonatal death. It is recommended that extra care be given to pregnant women with anaemia, while further studies are conducted with a larger sample size to substantiate the claims made in this study.

The burden of inappropriate birth weight on neonatal survival in term newborns: a population-based study in a middle-income setting.

Premature birth, perinatal asphyxia, and infections are the main causes of neonatal death. Growth deviations at birth also affect neonatal survival according to week of gestation at birth, particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to verify the association between inappropriate birth weight and neonatal death in term live births. This is an observational follow-up study with all term live births from 2004 to 2013 in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Data were retrieved with the deterministic linkage of death and birth certificates. The definition of very small for gestational age (VSGA) and very large for gestational age (VLGA) used the 10th percentile of 37 weeks and the 90th percentile of 41 weeks + 6 days, respectively, based on the Intergrowth-21st. We measured the outcome in terms of time to death and the status of each subject (death or censorship) in the neonatal period (0-27 days). Survival functions were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method stratified according to the adequacy of birth weight into three groups (normal, very small, or very large). We used multivariate Cox regression to adjust for proportional hazard ratios (HRs). The neonatal death rate during the study period was 12.03/10,000 live births. We found 1.8% newborns with VSGA and 2.7% with VLGA. The adjusted analysis showed a significant increase in mortality risk for VSGA infants (HR = 4.25; 95% CI: 3.89-4.65), independent of sex, 1-min Apgar score, and five maternal factors. The risk of neonatal death in full-term live births was approximately four times greater in those with birth weight restriction. The development of strategies to control the factors that determine fetal growth restriction through planned and structured prenatal care can substantially reduce the risk of neonatal death in full-term live births, especially in developing countries such as Brazil.

Individual and Community-level Determinants of Neonatal Mortality in Pakistan: indication from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2017-18).

To evaluate individual and community-level factors influencing neonatal mortality in Pakistan. The retrospective, secondary-data, quantitative study was done from July 2021 to January 2022 after approval from the ethics review committee of the International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised data of live births from November 22, 2017, to April 30, 2018, which was the period covered by the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Significant community-level, maternal and proximate determinants of neonatal mortality were identified. Data was analysed using STATA 13. Among the 12,708 live births covered, the neonatal mortality rate within the first month of birth was 5337(42%), and 3939(31%) neonatal deaths occurred in the first week of life, while 3431(27%) deaths occurred on the first day. Distance to health facility (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.1; 95% confidence interval: 0.8-1.6), unimproved toilet facility (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval: 0.7-2.1), caesarean section deliveries (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 0.6-1.9) and child's birth size smaller than average (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.7) carried significantly higher risk of neonatal deaths. Compared to women aged 15-19 years, older women's child (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.6; 95% confidence interval: 0.2-1.6) and neonates having birth order 3 compared to birth order 1 (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.5; 95% confidence interval: 0.2-0.9) and female gender of child (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.3; 95% confidence interval: 0.2-0.9) were less likely to die. There was a markedly high prevalence of neonatal mortality rate in Pakistan. Unimproved toilet facility, distance to health facility, caesarean mode of delivery and small size of the child at birth were found linked with increased risk of neonatal mortality.

Long-term neurological morbidity among children delivered by vacuum extraction - a national cohort study.

This is the first nationwide cohort study of vacuum extraction (VE) and long-term neurological morbidity. We hypothesized that VE per se, and not only complicated labor, can cause intracranial bleedings, which could further cause neurological long-term morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of neonatal mortality, cerebral palsy (CP), and epilepsy among children delivered by VE in a long-term perspective. The study population included 1 509 589 term singleton children planned for vaginal birth in Sweden (January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2017). We investigated the risk of neonatal death (ND), CP, and epilepsy among children delivered by VE (successful or failed) and compared their risks with those born by spontaneous vaginal birth and emergency cesarean section (ECS). We used logistic regression to study the adjusted associations with each outcome. The follow-up time was from birth until December 31, 2019. The percentage and total number of children with the outcomes were ND (0.04%, n = 616), CP (0.12%, n = 1822), and epilepsy (0.74%, n = 11 190). Compared with children delivered by ECS, those born by VE had no increased risk of ND, but there was an increased risk for those born after failed VE (adj OR 2.23 [1.33-3.72]). The risk of CP was similar among children born by VE and those born spontaneously vaginally. Further, the risk of CP was similar among children born after failed VE compared with ECS. The risk of epilepsy was not increased among children born by VE (successful/failed), compared with those who had spontaneous vaginal birth or ECS. The outcomes ND, CP, and epilepsy are rare. In this nationwide cohort study, children born after successful VE had no increased risk of ND, CP or epilepsy compared with those delivered by ECS, but there was an increased risk of ND among those born by failed VE. Concerning the studied outcomes, VE appears to be a safe obstetric intervention; however, it requires a thorough risk assessment and awareness of when to convert to ECS.

Cultural influence on angolan maternal care of newborns and health strategies: health professionals’ perspective

Child mortality is a key indicator not only for child health and wellbeing, but also for the general progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Health professionals are bestowed a prominent position and must be provided with skills for fostering quality and culturally consistent healthcare. Health education practice acts as a means for optimising self-care. This is a descriptive, exploratory and transversal study with qualitative methodology, the sample of which is non probabilistic as a matter of convenience, composed of Angolan health professionals. We analysed cultural influence on Angolan maternal care of newborns and strategies for health intervention from the perspective of Angolan health professionals, as well as the performance of said professionals. Health professionals mention that cultural influence on care fosters practices which are not recommended by the WHO, with a detrimental effect on health, as happens for example in umbilical cord stump care by using products which cause omphalitis and increase the risk of sepsis and neonatal death. Said professionals defend that in view of this finding, it is fundamental to invest in strategies which will improve the quality of healthcare, in order to reduce neonatal mortality in Angola. These results support what has been described in scientific literature and studies within the same framework, reinforcing the need to pay attention to this reality.

Research progress of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in nonhuman primate models.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the important complications of neonatal asphyxia, which not only leads to neurological disability but also seriously threatens the life of neonates. Over the years, animal models of HIE have been a research hotspot to find ways to cope with HIE and thereby reduce the risk of neonatal death or disability in moderate-to-severe HIE. By reviewing the literature related to HIE over the years, it was found that nonhuman primates share a high degree of homology with human gross neural anatomy. The basic data on nonhuman primates are not yet complete, so it is urgent to mine and develop new nonhuman primate model data. In recent years, the research on nonhuman primate HIE models has been gradually enriched and the content is more novel. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to further summarize the methods for establishing the nonhuman primate HIE model and to better elucidate the relevance of the nonhuman primate model to humans by observing the behavioral manifestations, neuropathology, and a series of biomarkers of HIE in primates HIE. Finally, the most popular and desirable treatments studied in nonhuman primate models in the past 5 years are summarized.

The Danish newborn standard and the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century newborn standard: a nationwide register-based cohort study

It is a matter of debate whether 1 universal standard, such as the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard, can be applied to all populations. The primary objective was to establish a Danish newborn standard based on the criteria of the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard to compare the percentiles of these 2 standards. A secondary objective was to compare the prevalence and risk of fetal and neonatal deaths related to small for gestational age defined by the 2 standards when used in the Danish reference population. This was a register-based nationwide cohort study. The Danish reference population included 375,318 singletons born at 33 to 42 weeks of gestation in Denmark between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2015. The Danish standard cohort included 37,811 newborns who fulfilled the criteria of the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard. Birthweight percentiles were estimated using smoothed quantiles for each gestational week. The outcomes included birthweight percentiles, small for gestational age (defined as a birthweight of 3rd percentile), and adverse outcomes (defined as either fetal or neonatal death). At all gestational ages, the Danish standard median birthweights at term were higher than the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard median birthweights: 295g for females and 320 g for males. Therefore, the estimates of the prevalence rate of small for gestational age within the entire population were different: 3.9% (n=14,698) using the Danish standard vs 0.7% (n=2640) using the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard. Accordingly, the relative risk of fetal and neonatal deaths among small-for-gestational-age fetuses differed by SGA status defined by the different standards (4.4 [Danish standard] vs 9.6 [International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard]). Our finding did not support the hypothesis that 1 universal standard birthweight curve can be applied to all populations.