Monitoring of MDG 4 progress has revealed that although both the under-5 mortality rate and the neonatal mortality rate are slowly decreasing, an increasing proportion of under-5 deaths occur in the neonatal period or the first 28 days afterbirth.
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Fig 1 depicts data updated to September 2010 and call
attention to the reality that approximately 4 of 10 under-5
childhood deaths are neonatal (most of which occur on the firs
day) with that proportion increasing. Furthermore, the earl
neonatal mortality rate (first week of life) in low-incom
countries has shown little improvement, whereas the neonata
mortality rate has improved in high-income countries. Each o
the major causes of neonatal mortality—prematurity, infection
and asphyxia― leave many survivors with lifelong disabilitie
or morbidities. Community mobilization and expanded
effective services for women and their newly born babies wil
be necessary for any further progress.
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