Neonatal Mortality in Phayao Hospital: 1990- 1994

Abstract

          A retrospective, descriptive study of the death rate and cause of death of newborns in Phayao hospital during the period January 1,1990 to December 31, 1994 revealed 17637 live births. The neonatal mortality rate is 9.19 per 1000 live births. The early neonatal mortality rate was 7.09 per 1000 live births, mostly the low birth weight newborns. The major causes of early neonatal death are Respiratory Distress Syndrome, perinatal asphyxia and infection respectively. Most of the late neonatal dead newborns are also the low birth weight newborns and infection is the most common cause of death in this group.

          The decrement in the low birth weight rate especially in premature newborns by good antenatal care and the usage of tocolytic agents, antenatal corticosteroid usage in premature labour, effective intrapartum care in order to decrease perinatal asphyxia, effective neonatal respiratory care and good infectious prevention control are leading to a decrease in the neonatal death rate.