The neonate has only recently attained its rightful status as a full
and equal partner in the spectrum of maternal, newborn and
child health (MNCH) care, research, and policy initiatives. The
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the
international development initiative for improving the social
and economic conditions of the world's poor adopted 8 goals in
2000 that have a 2015 date for attainment. Significantly, 2 of the
8 goals are directed at MNCH: MDG 4 for child health including
neonatal survival and MDG 5 for maternal health.
1
Neonatal
deaths (deaths in the first 28 days of life) are a major portion of
child deaths, are often graphically depicted and monitored with
under-5 mortality, and serve as a sentinel indicator of
reproductive health. Most neonatal deaths occur within hours
after birth.