Comparison of Neonatal and Infant Mortality Rates between Infants Born in South Korea and Those Born in the United States

PURPOSE: The neonatal (NMR) or infant mortality rate (IMR) in South Korea is lower than that in the United States. We aimed to investigate the contributing factors to this difference in mortality rates. METHODS: The study populations consisted of five groups, namely group A, comprising live births in South Korea during 2009-2011 (n=1,383,806), and groups B (live births to Korean parents, n=107,309), C (Caucasian births, n=31,588,183), D (African-origin, n=4,381,664), and E (all live births, n=49,384,187) comprising various US live births during 2000-2011. Maternal characteristics, birth outcomes, and mortality rates in these five groups were compared according to birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA). RESULTS: Maternal characteristics such as BW distribution and very low and low BW rates among infants in South Korea and those in the United States were quite similar. Both rates were significantly lower among the Korean live births than among Caucasian and African-origin live births in the United States. However, the mortality rates of these small birth weight groups were significantly higher in the Korean infants born in South Korea than in those born in the United States, or in Caucasian and African-origin infants born in the United States. Similar results were noted when analyzed according to gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: The NMR or IMR in South Korea is lower than that in the United States, primarily due to the overwhelming favorable BW and GA distribution, despite the lower BW- and GA-specific survival rates in the live births in South Korea than in the United States.

Early Neonatal Mortality, Low Birth Weight and Related Factors in Japan

Objectives: The author conducted an ecological study to examine prefectural differences in ENMR and the related factors in Japan, using two new indicators; birth weight (BW) adjusted ENMR and expected ENMR by BW distribution. Method: Correlate analysis of data from national vital statistics and some indicators of medical care services among 47 prefectures edited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan were conducted. BW-adjusted ENMR and expected ENMR by BW, as well as other indicators, were prepared for statistical analysis. Result: Crude and BW-adjusted ENMRs were significantly correlated with ENMRs for low birth weight (LBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) early neonates (p<0.01). The number of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) physicians was negatively correlated with BW adjusted ENMR. Conclusion: Crude and BW-adjusted ENMRs were affected mainly by LBW and VLBW early neonate specific ENMR, but not by the rate of LBW. The variation of ENMR among prefectures in Japan is attributable to the number of OB/GYN physicians. The present findings suggest that emphasis should be laid upon enhancement of regional perinatal care systems.

Cohort Infant Mortality Rate of Gunwee and Hapchun Counties and an MCH Center in Taegu / 예방의학회지

No abstract available.

Early Neonatal Mortality Rate(II) : Obstetric Factors

The purpose of this study is to estimate early neonatal mortality rate in relation to obstetric factors. The early neonatal mortality rate was estimated on live births with a gestational period more than 28 weeks who died during the first 7 days of life in Ewha Womans University Hospital fro-m Jan. 1974 to Dec. 1978. During this period, there were 8218 single births and 127 early neonatal deaths. 1. We had 127 deaths out of 8218 single births, and early neonatal mortality rate came to 15.5 per 1000 live births. 2. The early neonatal mortality rate was increased in cases of maternal age over 40, higher in multipara, who had delivered more than 4 times, who had frequent abortions (more than 5 times) and it was also higher in para-one than para-two. 3. The early neonatal mortality rate was 7.9 times higher in abnormal presentation of fetus than normal one. 4. There was no significant difference in early neonatal mortality rate between spontaneous vaginal delivery and Caesarian section delivery, but significant high mortality rate was noted in breech delivery. 5. In cases of anemic mother (Hemoglobin less than 10 gm%, Hematocrit less than 32%), the early neonatal mortality rate was 2.8 times higher than non-anemic group. 6. The early neonatal mortality rate of babies from mothers without antenatal care was 3 ti-mes higher than that of mothers who had. 7. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was present in 15.8% of all live births and early neo-natal mortality rate was 10.8. The mortality rate was 6.5 times higher in chronic hypertensive vascular disorder with toxe-mia than in preeclampsia and 3.7 times higher in eclampsia than in precclampsis. 8. The obstetric complication which increased early neonatal mortality rate were polyhydra-mnios, amnionitis, abruptio placentae etc.

Early Neonatal Mortality Rate; Neonatal Factors

In 8218 newborns who were born in Ewha Womans University Hospital during the period from January, 1974 to December, 1978, the authors investigated the mortality rate within 7 days after birth and studied the factors associated with it. The results are as follows; 1. The early neonatal mortality rate was, in average, 15.5 among 1000 live newborns. 2. The mortality rate was 1.5 times greater in males than in females. 3. According to the birth weight, marked increase of mortality rate was found in those under 2500 gm and all under 1000 gm were expired during the first week of life. 4. The gestational age under 37 weeks was associated with higher mortality rate and all under 27 weeks were expired. 5. The lower the both birth weight and gestational age were, the higher the mortality rate was. The lower gestational age in the same birth weight group or the lower birth weight in the same gestational age group was associated with higher mortality rate. The mortality rate was also higher in those with lower Apgar score. 6. 69.8% of neonatal death occurred within 24 hours after birth and the rate decreased during the succeeding days. 7. The most common cause of death was abnormal pulmonary ventilation (30.1%), which was followed by congenital anomalies, prematurity, birth trauma and infection in the order of frequency. 10 of 11 autopsied cases were found to have anomalies or diseases of the lung.