Objective:
According to the World Health Organization reports approximately 4 million babies die during the first 4 weeks of their lives. The majority of these neonatal deaths occur during the first week of life. The most important causes of neonatal mortality are prematurity, congenital anomalies, infections, perinatal asphyxia and traumatic delivery.
Material and Methods:
In this study medical records of the neonates who died during neonatal period were retrospectively evaluated. Perinatal-maternal risk factors, causes and rate of neonatal mortality were determined.
Results:
The mortality rate was 6.53%. Twenty three of 28 neonates (82.14%) died during the first week of life, whereas 5 (17,86%) after seventh day. Early neonatal mortality was found to be 6.55 per 1000 live births. The most common cause (42.8%) of neonatal mortality was prematurity and Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Other causes in decreasing frequency were neonatal sepsis (%21.4), congenital anomalies (%14.2), hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (%7.1), meconium aspiration syndrome (%7.1), cyanotic congenital heart disease (%3.5) and intraventricular hemorrhage (%3.5).
Conclusion:
As a result the majority of neonatal deaths were due to complications of premature labor and infections. Prevention of premature labor, sufficient antenatal maternal care, and establishment of good delivery conditions to decrease neonatal infections and medical care after delivery could help to decrease neonatal mortality rates.
Keywords: neonate, mortality, prematurity