Pooled analysis indicates that three fourths of the total deaths during the neonatal period
occur in the first week of life (74.3%). During the first week, the first three days of life
account for the highest number of deaths (37.6%, 8.4% and 10.7% of total neonatal deaths
occur on days 0, 1 and 2 respectively).
A total of six studies provided the distribution of cause-specific mortality in the neonatal
period (16,19–21,24–25). Almost all deaths (98.2%) due to asphyxia occur in the first week
of life. The first day (day 0) alone contributes to about three fourths of the total asphyxia
deaths.
Less than half of the total deaths secondary to sepsis occur in the first week of life. About
30% of these deaths occur in the second week of life while around one fourth occur in
weeks three to four.
More than four fifths of deaths due to prematurity (83.2%) occur in the first week of life.
The first day (day 0) contributes to around 40% of these deaths. About 8–10% of the
deaths occur in week 2 and the same amount in weeks 3–4 of life. Distribution of deaths
due to malformations almost mimics that of prematurity deaths – about four fifths of
these deaths (78.4%) occur in the first week of life with the first day (day 0) contributing
to about 40% of deaths.