title: Neonatal mortality in a rural area of The Gambia.
abstract: Childhood mortality in Upper River Division, The Gambia is high, 99 per 1000 mid-year population, and 27% of deaths occur is the neonatal period. The aims of the present study were to describe patterns of neonatal death and to identify risk factors. Cause of death was investigated using a neonatal post-mortem questionnaire, and a population-based, matched case-control study was conducted to identify potential risk factors. The neonatal mortality rate in Upper River Division was 39 per 1000 live births (95% CI 36.8-41.2). The rates in the early and late neonatal periods were 21.0 (19.4-22.6) and 18.0 (16.5-19.5), respectively. Infection accounted for 57% of all deaths. In the early neonatal period, 30% of deaths were due to prematurity. Only 55% of babies who died presented for treatment and 84% died at home. Risk factors for neonatal death were primiparity (OR 2.18), previous stillbirth (OR 3.19), prolonged labour (OR 2.80) and pre-lacteal feeding (OR 3.38). A protective effect was seen in association with delivery by a trained traditional birth attendant (OR 0.34) and the application of shea nut butter, a traditional medicine, to the cord stump (OR 0.07). This study has identified the need to understand the reasons underlying the widespread use of pre-lacteal feeds and the barriers to health service use in this community in order to plan effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratories, Fajara, The Gambia, West Africa. Aleach@mrc.gm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Banya
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Krubally
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rands
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adegbola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Francisco
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002423:Cause of Death; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution