Background and Objectives: Neonatal mortality is
considered a basic measure of public maternal and
child health. This study aimed to determine trends
in neonatal mortality at Chaiyaphum Hospital during
the period from 2012 to 2019 and to determine
potential factors contributing to neonatal mortality.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of 30,375
live births , who were admitted in Chaiyaphum
Hospital between 1 October 2011 and 30 September
2019. 232 neonatal deaths (0 - 28 days) at
Chaiyaphum Hospital were analyzed. Data were
analyzed for statistical significant (p < 0.05) by
chi – square test. Neonatal mortality rates , time of
death, causes of death were calculated. Factors
contributing to the neonatal mortality stratified by
gestational age and birth weight were compared in
univariate analyses by calculating odd ratio (OR) and
95% confidence interval.
Results: The overall neonatal mortality rate at
Chaiyaphum Hospital during the period from 2012
to 2019 was 7.64 per 1,000 live births. Overall
neonatal mortality remained unchanged from 2012
to 2019 (p = 0.34). Factors significantly associated with
neonatal mortality include preterm and low birth
weight, especially extremely preterm < 28 weeks
gestation (OR 357.553 , 95 % CI 236.748 – 540.002,
p < 0.001) and extremely low birth weight 500 - 999
gram (OR 384.270, 95 % CI 256.998 - 574.573,
p < 0.001). Time of death, 72.84 % were early
neonatal deaths. Cause of neonatal death, the
largest neonatal mortality was neonatal sepsis (40.52
%). The trends in neonatal mortality rates of respiratory distress syndrome , late onset neonatal
sepsis showed statistically significant decreases, but
early onset neonatal sepsis significantly increased.
Conclusion: The overall neonatal mortality at
Chaiyaphum Hospital remained unchanged from 2012
to 2019. Factors significantly associated with neonatal
mortality include preterm and low birth weight. Cause
of neonatal death , the largest neonatal mortality was
neonatal sepsis.
Keywords
neonatal mortality rate; time of death; causes of death; factors contributing to the neonatal mortality