Invited Commentary: Seeing the unseen: targeting neonatal mortality in rural Vietnam

Abstract

Although there has been significant reduction in under-five mortality in developing countries over the last decade, rate of reduction in neonatal deaths has lagged behind reduction in post-neonatal mortality. It is currently estimated that almost 41% of all under-five deaths globally occur in the newborn period, the majority within the first few days of life. The importance of the relative resilience of neonatal deaths is underscored by recent findings from Southeast Asia, where despite impressive reductions in child mortality, newborn mortality rates remain high in many regions. With emerging data on the high burden of stillbirths globally, the importance of the link between neonatal mortality and intrapartum stillbirths in developing countries is being increasingly recognized.

(Published: 15 March 2011)

Citation: Global Health Action 2011, 4: 6360 - DOI: 10.3402/gha.v4i0.6360