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Global, regional and national perinatal and neonatal mortality

Victor Y Yu1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Ritchie Centre for Baby Health Research, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. victor.yu@med.monash.edu.au

Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|November 7, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Global perinatal mortality remains high, especially in developing nations. Addressing health inequalities is crucial for improving outcomes for mothers and newborns worldwide.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Neonatal Health

Background:

  • High global perinatal mortality rate (PMR) of 53/1000 and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of 36/1000, with 7.5 and 5.1 million deaths annually, respectively.
  • Developing countries bear the brunt, with significantly higher PMR (57/1000) and NMR (39/1000) compared to developed nations, accounting for 90% of livebirths and 98% of neonatal deaths.
  • The Asia-Oceania region faces a disproportionately high burden, contributing half of the world's livebirths and two-thirds of neonatal deaths.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the disparities in perinatal and neonatal mortality rates globally.
  • To underscore the role of PMR and NMR as indicators of healthcare system quality.
  • To emphasize the need for strategies addressing national and international inequalities to improve perinatal health.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of global, regional, and national perinatal and neonatal mortality statistics.
  • Comparison of mortality rates between developing and developed countries.
  • Examination of livebirth and neonatal death distribution across continents.

Main Results:

  • Developing countries experience 5.2x higher PMR and 5.6x higher NMR than developed countries.
  • Asia-Oceania reports a PMR of 53/1000 and NMR of 41/1000, with substantial numbers of births and deaths.
  • Significant regional variations exist in livebirths and neonatal deaths, with Asia-Oceania and Africa having the highest figures.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal and neonatal mortality rates are critical indicators of socioeconomic and healthcare system performance.
  • Urgent interventions are required to reduce the high burden of perinatal and neonatal deaths in developing countries.
  • Addressing health inequalities within and between countries is paramount for achieving global improvements in perinatal health.

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