[Neonatal mortality factors at the Dakar General Hospital]

The authors studied 223 new-borns in an African Pediatric Department over a eight month period. The death rate was 47.5 p. cent (106 cases). It was explained by infectious diseases in 53 cases, respiratory distress syndrome in 37 cases, acute foetal distress in 9 cases, jaundice in 6 cases, and malformation syndrome in one case. A birth-weight less than 2.500 g is correlated with a poor prognosis. The authors define target populations in tropical zones to be looked after by aims of prophylactic and curative actions.