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Newborn mortality is caused by premature birth, congenital conditions, infections, malnutrition, and SIDS. Rates vary by country, with developing countries experiencing more malnutrition and disease-related deaths. Organizations like WHO work to reduce preventable deaths.
Common causes of newborn mortality include premature birth, congenital conditions, and infection. Exact rates vary by country. In developing countries, problems such as malnutrition and disease are common causes of newborn mortality, while in developed countries, congenital conditions and complications associated with preterm birth tend to outnumber the statistics. A number of organizations, such as the World Health Organization, have engaged in campaigns to reduce preventable newborn mortality and maternal deaths.
The term “neonatal mortality” refers to the death of newborns within 28 days of birth. Birth defects are a common cause; in some cases they are not identified before giving birth, in others they are diagnosed and the parents proceed to pregnancy aware of the risks. Many birth defects can cause death shortly after birth as they interfere with key functions such as breathing. In these cases, only supportive care can be provided to the newborn. Other birth defects are manageable, but cannot be cured in regions where access to health care is limited, causing neonatal mortality.
Preterm birth is another common culprit. While care for premature babies has improved dramatically in developed countries, babies born too soon are still at significant risk of complications such as infections and heart arrhythmias. In countries where women cannot access high-quality hospital care during preterm labor, the chances of infant survival drop dramatically. In some settings, basic care such as keeping the baby warm and well fed may be the only medical care available.
Historically, dehydration due to diarrhea has been a very common cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries. Efforts by international health organizations to educate parents about the use of rehydration solutions have reduced this common risk factor. Newborns can also die from malnutrition, a common concern during famines, and from infections such as pneumonia, as their bodies are too fragile to fight off infection.
Another cause of neonatal mortality is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This condition can be observed in a wide variety of settings, from countries where access to healthcare is excellent to remote areas where limited care is provided to mothers and babies. The causes of SIDS aren’t well understood, and even when parents follow practical advice like using approved bedding, it can still happen. Research to learn more about why and how SIDS occurs is underway in many countries to develop better practices for preventing and addressing it.
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