Causes of Death in Neonates, Infants, Children, and Adolescents at the University Children's Clinical Hospital of Bialystok Between 2018 and 2021.

BACKGROUND Monitoring of mortality rate and causes of death in pediatric hospitals is required in Poland. This study is aimed to evaluate the causes of death in neonates, infants, children, and adolescents obtained from the medical records of the University Children's Clinical Hospital (UCCH) of Bialystok between 2018 and 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was an observational, cross-sectional study. Medical records of 59 patients (12 neonates, 17 infants, 14 children, 16 adolescents) who died in the UCCH of Bialystok in 2018-2021 were analyzed. The records included personal data, medical history, and causes of death. RESULTS Between 2018 and 2021, the leading death causes were congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (25.42%, N=15) and conditions originating in the perinatal period (11.86%, N=7). The leading death causes in each age group were: in neonates - congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (50%, N=6), in infants -conditions originating in the perinatal period (29.41%, N=5), in children - diseases of the respiratory system (30.77%, N=4), and in teenagers - external causes of morbidity (31%, N=5). Before the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2019), the leading death causes were congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (20.69%, N=6) and conditions originating in the perinatal period (20.69%, N=6). During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021), congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (26.67%, N=8) and COVID-19 (10.00%, N=3) were the most common death causes. CONCLUSIONS Leading death causes varied among age groups. The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on pediatric causes of death and changed their distribution. The results of this analysis should be discussed and conclusions should improve the quality of pediatric care.

National data linkage assessment of live births and deaths in Mexico: Estimating under-five mortality rate ratios for vulnerable newborns and trends from 2008 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Linked datasets that enable longitudinal assessments are scarce in low and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the linkage of administrative databases of live births and under-five child deaths to explore mortality and trends for preterm, small (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) in Mexico. METHODS: We linked individual-level datasets collected by National statistics from 2008 to 2019. Linkage was performed based on agreement on birthday, sex, residential address. We used the Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health software to identify the best candidate pairs based on similarity. Accuracy was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. We evaluated completeness by comparing the number of linked records with reported deaths. We described the percentage of linked records by baseline characteristics to identify potential bias. Using the linked dataset, we calculated mortality rate ratios (RR) in neonatal, infants, and children under-five according to gestational age, birthweight, and size. RESULTS: For the period 2008-2019, a total of 24,955,172 live births and 321,165 under-five deaths were available for linkage. We excluded 1,539,046 records (6.2%) with missing or implausible values. We succesfully linked 231,765 deaths (72.2%: range 57.1% in 2009 and 84.3% in 2011). The rate of neonatal mortality was higher for preterm compared with term (RR 3.83, 95% confidence interval, [CI] 3.78, 3.88) and for SGA compared with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (RR 1.22 95% CI, 1.19, 1.24). Births at <28 weeks had the highest mortality (RR 35.92, 95% CI, 34.97, 36.88). LGA had no additional risk vs AGA among children under five (RR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.90, 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the utility of linked data to understand neonatal vulnerability and child mortality. We created a linked dataset that would be a valuable resource for future population-based research.

Neonatal outcomes and indirect consequences following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the association between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and individual neonatal morbidities and outcomes, particularly longer-term outcomes such as neurodevelopment. DESIGN: Systematic review of outcomes of neonates born to pregnant women diagnosed with a SARS-CoV-2 infection at any stage during pregnancy, including asymptomatic women. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, WHOLIS and LILACS databases, last searched on 28 July 2021. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Case-control and cohort studies published after 1 January 2020, including preprint articles were included. Study outcomes included neonatal mortality and morbidity, preterm birth, caesarean delivery, small for gestational age, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, level of respiratory support required, diagnosis of culture-positive sepsis, evidence of brain injury, necrotising enterocolitis, visual or hearing impairment, neurodevelopmental outcomes and feeding method. These were selected according to a core outcome set. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel by two researchers, with statistical analysis completed using IBM SPSS (Version 27). Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: The search returned 3234 papers, from which 204 were included with a total of 45 646 infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy across 36 countries. We found limited evidence of an increased risk of some neonatal morbidities, including respiratory disease. There was minimal evidence from low-income settings (1 study) and for neonatal outcomes following first trimester infection (17 studies). Neonatal mortality was very rare. Preterm birth, neonatal unit admission and small for gestational age status were more common in infants born following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy in most larger studies. CONCLUSIONS: There are limited data on neonatal morbidity and mortality following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly from low-income countries and following early pregnancy infections. Large, representative studies addressing these outcomes are needed to understand the consequences for babies born to women with SARS-CoV-2. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021249818.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths: 2015-2020.

OBJECTIVE: Although the US infant mortality rate reached a record low in 2020, the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rate increased from 2019. To understand if the increase was related to changing death certification practices or the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we examined sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) rates as a group, by cause, and by race and ethnicity. METHODS: We estimated SUID rates during 2015 to 2020 using US period-linked birth and death data. SUID included SIDS, unknown cause, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. We examined changes in rates from 2019 to 2020 and assessed linear trends during prepandemic (2015-2019) using weighted least squares regression. We also assessed race and ethnicity trends and quantified COVID-19-related SUID. RESULTS: Although the SIDS rate increased significantly from 2019 to 2020 (P < .001), the overall SUID rate did not (P = .24). The increased SIDS rate followed a declining linear trend in SIDS during 2015 to 2019 (P < .001). Other SUID causes did not change significantly. Our race and ethnicity analysis showed SUID rates increased significantly for non-Hispanic Black infants from 2019 to 2020, widening the disparities between these two groups during 2017 to 2019. In 2020, <10 of the 3328 SUID had a COVID-19 code. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnositic shifting likely explained the increased SIDS rate in 2020. Why the SUID rate increased for non-Hispanic Black infants is unknown, but warrants continued monitoring. Interventions are needed to address persistent racial and ethnic disparities in SUID.

Survival status and predictors of mortality among asphyxiated neonates admitted to the NICU of Dessie comprehensive specialized hospital, Amhara region, Northeast Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of early neonatal mortality, which causes an estimated 900,000 deaths annually. Therefore, assessing the survival status and predictors of mortality among asphyxiated neonates will be highly helpful to policymakers in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs to achieve the sustainable development goal of reducing neonatal mortality as low as 12/1,000 live births by 2030. METHODS: A facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 378 asphyxiated neonates admitted to the NICU of Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from January, 2017 -December, 2019. The data were collected from eligible records by using a structured data extraction tool from March 30 -April 21, 2020. The data were cleaned manually and entered into Epi-data version 7.1.2.0, and STATA version 16 was used for the analysis. Bivariate and Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were performed, and significant predictors were identified using 95% confidence interval and p-value <0.05. RESULT: A total of 378 neonates were followed for 2298 neonatal days, ranging from 1 to 28 days. The mortality incidence rate was 5.3/100 person-days-of observation (95% CI: 4.41, 6.29), and 32% (95% CI: 27.6%, 36.8%) of the study subjects died. Admission weight (AHR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.72), seizure (AHR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.27), neonates who received resuscitation (AHR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.18, 3.80), and stage of asphyxia (moderate (AHR: 3.50; 95% CI: 1.55, 8.36), and severe (AHR: 11.55; 95% CI: 4.73, 28.25)) were significant predictors of neonatal mortality among asphyxiated neonates. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of neonatal mortality among asphyxiated neonates in the study area was high. Admission weight, seizure, resuscitation, and stage of asphyxia were significant predictors of mortality among neonates with asphyxia. Therefore, special attention should be given to asphyxiated neonates with low admission weight and those who had seizure. Additionally, the timing, quality, and effectiveness of resuscitation might need further assessment and evaluation.

Determining factors of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia: An investigation from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality is the probability of dying during the first 28 days of life. Of approximately 5 million children who die in the first year of life in the world, about 3 million are within their first 28 days of birth. In Ethiopia, the neonatal mortality rate is high about 37 per 1000 live births, and the factors are not well documented. Then, this study aimed to determine the key factors that have a significant influence on neonatal mortality. METHODS: A total of 5753 neonatal mortality-related data were obtained from Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (2019) data. A frequency distribution to summarize the overall data and Binary Logistic Regression to identify the subset of significant risk factors for neonatal mortality were applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: An estimated 36 per 1000 live children had died before the first 28 days, with the highest in the Benishangul Gumuz region (15.9%) and the lowest in Addis Ababa (2.4%). From the Binary logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio and 95% CI of age 25-34 (OR = 0.263, 95% CI: 0.106-0.653), Afar (OR = 0.384, 95% CI: 0.167-0.884), SNNPR (OR = 0.265, 95% CI: 0.098-0.720), Addis Ababa (OR = 5.741, 95% CI: 1.115-29.566), Urban (OR = 0.253, 95% CI: 0.090, 0.709), toilet facility (OR = 0.603, 95% CI: 0.404-0.900), single birth (OR = 0.261, 95% CI: 0.138-0.495), poorest (OR = 10.573, 95% CI: 2.166-51.615), poorer (OR = 19.573, 95% CI: 4.171-91.848), never breastfed (OR = 35.939, 95% CI: 25.193-51.268), public health delivery (OR = 0.302, 95% CI: 0.106-0.859), private health facility (OR = 0.269, 95% CI: 0.095-0.760). CONCLUSION: All regional states of Ethiopia, specially Benishangul Gumuz, and the Somali region must take remedial actions on public health policy, design strategies to improve facilities, and improve the capacities of stakeholders living in their region toward those major factors affecting neonatal mortality in the country.

COVID-19 antibody positivity over time and pregnancy outcomes in seven low-and-middle-income countries: A prospective, observational study of the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research.

OBJECTIVES: To determine COVID-19 antibody positivity rates over time and relationships to pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). DESIGN: With COVID-19 antibody positivity at delivery as the exposure, we performed a prospective, observational cohort study in seven LMICs during the early COVID-19 pandemic. SETTING: The study was conducted among women in the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health's Maternal and Newborn Health Registry (MNHR), a prospective, population-based study in Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Bangladesh, Pakistan, India (two sites), and Guatemala. POPULATION: Pregnant women enrolled in an ongoing pregnancy registry at study sites. METHODS: From October 2020 to October 2021, standardised COVID-19 antibody testing was performed at delivery among women enrolled in MNHR. Trained staff masked to COVID-19 status obtained pregnancy outcomes, which were then compared with COVID-19 antibody results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antibody status, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, maternal mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: At delivery, 26.0% of women were COVID-19 antibody positive. Positivity increased over the four time periods across all sites: 13.8%, 15.4%, 21.0% and 40.9%. In the final period, positivity rates were: DRC 27.0%, Kenya 33.1%, Pakistan 32.8%, Guatemala 37.0%, Zambia 37.8%, Bangladesh 47.2%, Nagpur, India 57.4% and Belagavi, India 62.4%. Adjusting for site and maternal characteristics, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, low birthweight and preterm birth were not significantly associated with COVID-19. The adjusted relative risk (aRR) for stillbirth was 1.27 (95% CI 0.95-1.69). Postpartum haemorrhage was associated with antibody positivity (aRR 1.44; 95% CI 1.01-2.07). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant populations in LMICs, COVID-19 antibody positivity has increased. However, most adverse pregnancy outcomes were not significantly associated with antibody positivity.

An Effective Response to Healthcare Disparities Begins With a Strategic Plan.

For too long, healthcare disparities have negatively affected underrepresented groups in urban areas throughout the United States. Disparities in care and outcomes related to social determinants were known, and efforts were made to address them. Effective change for all moved up to top priority in the wake of COVID-19's arrival, police brutality, social unrest, and the murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd. Henry Ford Health (HFH), working with leading local community organizations, immediately pledged to address social and racial injustices. Unfortunately, many neighborhoods still suffer disproportionately from maternal and infant mortality, food insecurity, and other social vulnerabilities. HFH's commitment to equity includes creatively meeting the needs of the underserved. HFH has developed innovative ways to address the social, economic, and educational challenges to the health of Metro Detroit. Through thoughtful consideration and passionate leadership, HFH is strategically creating authentic and scalable social change to address racism and discrimination in healthcare.

Severe Maternal Morbidity and Neonatal Mortality After COVID-19 Infection: Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Maternal coagulopathy and adverse fetal effects are both possible results of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. This case demonstrates the potentially fatal outcomes when both occur simultaneously. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old multiparous woman at 31 weeks gestation presented with mild COVID-19 symptoms and decreased fetal movement. Evaluation included a biophysical profile with 2/8 scoring and fetal heart rate tracing that developed a terminal bradycardia. She underwent an emergent cesarean delivery that was complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (fibrinogen < 60mg/dL, platelets 34, international normalized ratio [INR] 2.1) and maternal hemorrhage requiring massive transfusion. The neonate ultimately required prolonged resuscitation with Apgar scores of 0/0/0 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes and passed away on day 6 of life. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the absence of severe symptoms, maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can cause a maternal systemic and placental reaction that can lead to serious maternal morbidity, as well as fetal or neonatal morbidity and mortality.

COVID-19 and maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This is the first comprehensive review to focus on currently available evidence regarding maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality cases associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, up to July 2020. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases to identify any reported cases of maternal, fetal or neonatal mortality associated with COVID-19 infection. The references of relevant studies were also hand-searched. RESULTS: Of 2815 studies screened, 10 studies reporting 37 maternal and 12 perinatal mortality cases (7 fetal demise and 5 neonatal death) were finally eligible for inclusion to this review. All maternal deaths were seen in women with previous co-morbidities, of which the most common were obesity, diabetes, asthma and advanced maternal age. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and severity of pneumonia were considered as the leading causes of all maternal mortalities, except for one case who died of thromboembolism during postpartum period. Fetal and neonatal mortalities were suggested to be a result of the severity of maternal infection or the prematurity, respectively. Interestingly, there was no evidence of vertical transmission or positive COVID-19 test result among expired neonates. CONCLUSION: Current available evidence suggested that maternal mortality mostly happened among women with previous co-morbidities and neonatal mortality seems to be a result of prematurity rather than infection. However, further reports are needed so that the magnitude of the maternal and perinatal mortality could be determined more precisely.

Infant Mortality and Inflation in China: Based on the Mixed Frequency VAR Analyses.

Reducing neonatal mortality is an important goal in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with the outbreak of the new crown epidemic and severe global inflation, it is extremely important to explore the relationship between inflation and infant mortality. This paper investigates the causal relationship between inflation and infant mortality using a mixed frequency vector autoregressive model (MF-VAR) without any filtering procedure, along with impulse response analysis and forecast misspecification variance decomposition, and compares it with a low frequency vector autoregressive model (LF-VAR). We find that there is a causal relationship between inflation and infant mortality, specifically, that is inflation increases infant mortality. Moreover, the contribution of CPI to IMR is greater in the forecast error variance decomposition in the MF-VAR model compared to the LF-VAR model, indicating that CPI has stronger explanatory power for IMR in mixed-frequency data. The results of the study have important implications for China and other developing countries in reducing infant mortality and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Policymakers should focus on inflation as a macroeconomic variable that reduces the potential negative impact of inflation on infant mortality. The results of the analysis further emphasize the importance of price stability in the context of global inflation caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

The Influence of Maternal Factors on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission and In-Hospital Mortality in Premature Newborns from Western Romania: A Population-Based Study.

Background and Objectives: Neonatal mortality is a global public health issue, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income nations. Although Romania is a high-income nation, according to the European Union's most recent demographic data, it had the second-highest infant death rate in 2019. Although significant progress has been made in the last three decades in lowering newborn mortality, more initiatives to accelerate progress are required to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) objective. Therefore, we aimed to develop an observational study to determine the influence of maternal factors on in-hospital neonatal intensive care unit admission and mortality in premature infants born in western Romania. While newborn mortality has decreased globally, the pace of decline is far less than what is desired. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study comprising 328 premature patients and 422 full-term newborns, was developed at a tertiary obstetrics and gynecology clinic in western Romania, comprising the period of the last 24 months before the COVID-19 pandemic and the first 24 months of the pandemic. Results: The following variables were identified as statistically significant risk factors for neonatal intensive care unit admission: age > 35 years, OR = 1.59; twin births, OR = 1.14; low gestational age, OR = 1.66; preeclampsia, OR = 2.33; and peripartum infection, OR = 2.25. The same risk factors, with the exception of twin births, were significantly associated with in-hospital neonatal mortality. Except for a longer duration of maternal hospitalization and neonatal therapy with surfactant, steroids, and antibiotics, the COVID-19 pandemic did not cause significant differences in the evolution and outcomes of preterm newborns. Conclusions: The major maternal risk factors for NICU admission were advanced age, twin pregnancy, low gestational age, preeclampsia, and peripartum infection. Additionally, these characteristics contributed to a high likelihood of death, despite adequate access to medical care and advanced life support for the neonates. Understanding the causes of morbidity and death in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit enables better prioritization and planning of health services, resource reallocation, and care quality improvement.

Mortality from Congenital Zika Syndrome - Nationwide Cohort Study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to Zika virus has potential teratogenic effects, with a wide spectrum of clinical presentation referred to as congenital Zika syndrome. Data on survival among children with congenital Zika syndrome are limited. METHODS: In this population-based cohort study, we used linked, routinely collected data in Brazil, from January 2015 through December 2018, to estimate mortality among live-born children with congenital Zika syndrome as compared with those without the syndrome. Kaplan-Meier curves and survival models were assessed with adjustment for confounding and with stratification according to gestational age, birth weight, and status of being small for gestational age. RESULTS: A total of 11,481,215 live-born children were followed to 36 months of age. The mortality rate was 52.6 deaths (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.6 to 58.0) per 1000 person-years among live-born children with congenital Zika syndrome, as compared with 5.6 deaths (95% CI, 5.6 to 5.7) per 1000 person-years among those without the syndrome. The mortality rate ratio among live-born children with congenital Zika syndrome, as compared with those without the syndrome, was 11.3 (95% CI, 10.2 to 12.4). Among infants born before 32 weeks of gestation or with a birth weight of less than 1500 g, the risks of death were similar regardless of congenital Zika syndrome status. Among infants born at term, those with congenital Zika syndrome were 14.3 times (95% CI, 12.4 to 16.4) as likely to die as those without the syndrome (mortality rate, 38.4 vs. 2.7 deaths per 1000 person-years). Among infants with a birth weight of 2500 g or greater, those with congenital Zika syndrome were 12.9 times (95% CI, 10.9 to 15.3) as likely to die as those without the syndrome (mortality rate, 32.6 vs. 2.5 deaths per 1000 person-years). The burden of congenital anomalies, diseases of the nervous system, and infectious diseases as recorded causes of deaths was higher among live-born children with congenital Zika syndrome than among those without the syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of death was higher among live-born children with congenital Zika syndrome than among those without the syndrome and persisted throughout the first 3 years of life. (Funded by the Ministry of Health of Brazil and others.).

A systematic review of the burden and risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Africa.

BACKGROUND: While sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has long been recognized as a leading preventable cause of infant mortality in high-income countries, little is known about the burden of SIDS in Africa. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted the first systematic review of SIDS-related publications in Africa. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of SIDS and its risk factors in Africa. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar to identify studies published until December 26, 2020. Review authors screened titles and abstracts, and selected articles independently for full-text review. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) or a modification. Data on the proportion of infants who died of SIDS and reported prevalence of any risk factors were extracted using customized data extraction forms in Covidence. RESULTS: Our analysis rested on 32 peer-reviewed articles. Nine studies presented prevalence estimates on bedsharing and prone sleeping, suggesting near-universal bedsharing of infants with parents (range, 60 to 91.8%) and frequent use of the prone sleeping position (range, 26.7 to 63.8%). Eleven studies reported on the prevalence of SIDS, suggesting high rates of SIDS in Africa. The prevalence of SIDS ranged from 3.7 per 1000 live births in South Africa, 2.5 per 1000 live births in Niger, and 0.2 per 1000 live births in Zimbabwe. SIDS and other sudden infant deaths accounted for between 2.5 to 21% of infant deaths in South Africa and 11.3% in Zambia. CONCLUSIONS: Africa may have the highest global rate of SIDS with a high burden of associated risk factors. However, majority of the studies were from South Africa which limits generalizability of our findings to the entire continent. There is an urgent need for higher quality studies outside of South Africa to fill this knowledge gap. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021257261.

Evaluation of stillbirths and infant mortality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The maternal-child health services remain an important indicator to look at how different countries have handled the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child healthcare use and evaluate data on stillbirths and infant mortality. METHODS: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, a retrospective analysis was performed on 293 stillbirths and 324 infant deaths, which occurred in Samsun Province of Turkey between 1 March 2018 and 1 March 2021. The study period was examined in three groups as pre-pandemic period 1 (1 March 2018-28 February 2019), pre-pandemic period 2 (1 March 2019-29 February 2020) and pandemic period (1 March 2020-28 February2021). RESULTS: The study found that the share of difficulties in delivering health-care services to the families (may be due to reasons such as difficulty in accessing health services for those living in rural areas, disruption of the referral chain) in stillbirths and infant deaths has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years (p = 0.037 in stillbirths, p = 0.002 in infant deaths). The mean number of follow-up visits during pregnancy has partially reduced during the pandemic (p > 0.05). Other variables of the health-care services have remained similar to years before the pandemic (p > 0.05). The rate of families without health insurance (p = 0.001 in stillbirths, p = 0.001 in infant deaths) and unemployed persons contributing to family budget (p = 0.012 in stillbirths, p = 0.016 in infant deaths) has significantly decreased during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, it was determined that the variables of stillbirth and infant mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and maternal and child health services in primary care and hospitals continued to provide services in a similar way to the pre-pandemic period. Compared to pre-pandemic periods during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that while the number of stillbirths was similar, there was a significant decrease in infant mortality.

Mortality in children under five years old in Brazil: evolution from 2017 to 2020 and the influence of COVID-19 in 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the mortality trends in children under five years old in Brazil from 2017 to 2020 and the influence of COVID-19 in 2020. METHODS: A retrospective study employing secondary data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System. Deaths according to cause were extracted and disaggregated into early, late, postneonatal, and 1 to 4-year-old periods. Corrected mortality rates per 1,000 live births and relative risk ratio for the cause of death were calculated. RESULTS: There were 34,070 deaths, being 417 (1.2%) from COVID-19 in 2020. COVID-19 mortality was 0.17 per 1000 live births, reaching 0.006 in the early neonatal period, 0.007 in the late neonatal, 0.09 in the postneonatal, and 0.06 in 1 to 4-year-old. Mortality decreased mostly for some diseases that originated in the perinatal period, congenital anomalies, diseases of the respiratory system and external causes, in this order. In 2020, the highest rate was in the early neonatal period, with a fall from 7.2 to 6.5, followed by the postneonatal (3.9 to 3.4) and late neonatal (2.3 to 2.1). Among children aged 1 to 4-year-old, external causes had the highest proportional rate, and diseases of the respiratory system showed the highest decline. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate declined from 2017 to 2020, and this variation was higher in the early neonatal period. The risk of death from COVID-19 was 14 times higher in the postneonatal period and 10 times higher in children aged 1 to 4 year-old compared to the early neonatal period.

Estimating Child Mortality at the Sub-national Level in Papua New Guinea: Evidence From the Integrated Health and Demographic Surveillance System.

BACKGROUND: Child mortality is an important indication of an effective public health system. Data sources available for the estimation of child mortality in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide child mortality estimates at the sub-national level in PNG using new data from the integrated Health and Demographic Surveillance System (iHDSS). METHOD: Using direct estimation and indirect estimation methods, household vital statistics and maternal birth history data were analysed to estimate three key child health indicators: Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) for the period 2014-2017. Differentials of estimates were evaluated by comparing the mean relative differences between the two methods. RESULTS: The direct estimations showed U5MR of 93, IMR of 51 and NMR of 34 per 1000 live births for all the sites in the period 2014-2017. The indirect estimations reported an U5MR of 105 and IMR of 67 per 1000 live births for all the sites in 2014. The mean relative differences in U5MR and IMR estimates between the two methods were 3 and 24 percentage points, respectively. U5MR estimates varied across the surveillance sites, with the highest level observed in Hela Province (136), and followed by Eastern Highlands (122), Madang (105), and Central (42). DISCUSSION: The indirect estimations showed higher estimates for U5MR and IMR than the direct estimations. The differentials between IMR estimates were larger than between U5MR estimates, implying the U5MR estimates are more reliable than IMR estimates. The variations in child mortality estimates between provinces highlight the impact of contextual factors on child mortality. The high U5MR estimates were likely associated with inequality in socioeconomic development, limited access to healthcare services, and a result of the measles outbreaks that occurred in the highlands region from 2014-2017. CONCLUSION: The iHDSS has provided reliable data for the direct and indirect estimations of child mortality at the sub-national level. This data source is complementary to the existing national data sources for monitoring and reporting child mortality in PNG.