CAUSES OF NEONATAL MORTALITY IN KERMAN PROVINCE IN 1387- (2008-2009)

Due to high neonatal mortality in developing countries and lack of knowledge about the relative importance of different causes of neonatal deaths, we carried out this study to evaluate the prevalence and causes of neonatal mortality in the population of Kerman Province. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2008-2009. The population was all the neonates born in Kerman with the gestational age more than 20 weeks and died before the fourth week of their lives. The information was collected by trained research staff using forms; neonatal causes of death were assigned by a pediatrician on the basis of information extracted from medical records. The data were analyzed by SPSS v.15. Accordingly, 535 neonatal deaths were recorded. Final causes of death were classified as immaturity-related (36.4%), birth asphyxia (20.7%), sepsis (13.6%), congenital anomalies (13.8%), and undiagnosed causes (15.3%). Low birth weight, delivery characteristics including the educational level of birth attendant, presenting part and existing risk factors in pregnancy are mostly associated with different rates and causes of neonatal deaths. There was high prevalence of neonatal mortality in our study population. It is strongly suggested to improve health service quality in order to decrease neonatal mortality. Advancements in the care of premature infants and prevention of spontaneous preterm labor lead to a substantial decrease in neonatal mortality.