EPIDEMIOLOGY
In developing countries, neonatal mortality
(deaths in the first 28 days of life per 1000 live
births) from all causes is about 34; most of these
deaths occur in the first week of life, most on the
first day11 (WHO 2001 Estimates). In contrast,
neonatal mortality for developed countries is in
the region of five.11 Neonatal mortality in Asia is
about 34, in Africa about 42, and in Latin
America and the Caribbean about 17, although
there are wide variations between different
countries in these regions as well as within the
countries themselves. For example, neonatal
mortality for different African countries ranges
from 68 in Liberia to 11 in South Africa.11
Discrepancies will often be due to under-reporting:
in some countries, babies, in particular those
born preterm and small for dates, are not
registered, because of registration fees, ignorance,
or logistical difficulties. In some traditions,
babies do not become part of the family until
they are a few days or weeks old, therefore early
deaths are not acknowledged.3 It is generally
assumed that neonatal mortality in developing
countries is under-reported by at least 20%.