EC Paediatrics

Background and Objective: Neonatal mortality is considered for a significant proportion of deaths in children under the age of five. Despite the decline in child mortality rates and significant improvement in neonatal medicine, neonatal mortality, particularly early neonatal death, is a major cause of infant mortality. Therefore, investigation of the causes of neonatal mortality, especially early neonatal deaths, in each geographical area is of great importance. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the rate and causes of early neonatal mortality in a reference hospital in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional, retrospective review conducted in the neonatal and neonatal intensive care units of Shariati Hospital over an 8-year period. All neonates born during this period who experienced death within the first week of life were examined for the cause and timing of death. The recorded information was subjected to statistical analysis.

Results: A total of 2050 neonates were born over the 8-year period, and there were 189 cases of early neonatal mortality. More than 50% of the deceased neonates had a birth weight of less than 2500 grams, and the most common causes of death were respiratory problems, followed by congenital anomalies.

Conclusion: Given that the majority of deaths occurred in low-birth-weight neonates, supporting mothers during pregnancy and appropriately monitoring fetal weight play important roles in reducing early neonatal mortality. Additionally, appropriate interventions at birth to treat respiratory problems can reduce neonatal mortality.

 Keywords: Neonate; Neonatal Mortality; Low Birth Weight

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