Early Neonatal Mortality Rate; Neonatal Factors

ABSTRACT

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.