title: Neonatal audit in the United Arab Emirates: a country with a rapidly developing economy.
abstract: We aimed to determine whether birth-weight-specific mortality rates and causes of neonatal death could identify interventions needed to reduce neonatal mortality rates. Data were collected from three hospitals responsible for 99% of births in Al-Ain Medical District. There were 8083 live births weighing > or = 500 g, of which 54 (0.67%) died. The mortality rate among very low-birth-weight infants was higher in this district than from centres with more advanced neonatal technology and resources. Problems of preterm births, lethal malformations and asphyxia accounted for 95% of deaths and half of the malformations were autosomal recessive syndromes. Improved management of lower-birth-weight infants, asphyxia and genetic counselling could lead to a further decline in neonatal mortality rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dawodu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varady
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verghese
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: al-Gazali
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008485:Medical Audit; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology