title: Neonatal mortality rate and risk factors in northeast China: analysis of 5,277 neonates in 2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare has dramatically improved for both mothers and neonates over the last three decades in China. However, the reported rates of morbidity and mortality vary among different regions of China, and the exact rates in Northeast China are unknown. This study aimed to determine neonatal morbidity and mortality rates and the associated risk factors in Northeast China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonates born in 2005 at seven hospitals in five major cities of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China were recruited. Standardized questionnaires on both the mother and neonate were conducted by trained investigators. The questions included demographic data on the mother, the mother's weight, gestational age (GA), complications during pregnancy, method of delivery, neonate's gender, weight, general health situation, and complications after delivery. Results: A total of 5,277 neonates were included, with a male to female ratio of 1.07. The incidence ofpreterm delivery was 8.7%, which was associated with an increased age of the mother, a history of preeclampsia-eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine distress. Morbidity occurred in 7.0% of neonates, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (2.4%), asphyxia (1.6%), pneumonia (1.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (0.5%), intracranial hemorrhage (0.5%), meconium as- piration syndrome (0.2%), and ingestion syndrome (0.2%). The overall mortality was 9.5%0. Preterm delivery, maternal history ofpreeclamp- sia-eclampsia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage, pneumonia, asphyxia, and meconium aspiration syndrome were independent risk factors for mortality with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 17.42 (7.31-38.9), 12.52 (Table 3) (3.91-16.82), 10.13 (2.52-19.86), 9.77 (2.35-19.93), 4.15 (1.78-9.52), 2.18 (1.21-5.47), and 2.76 (2.11-6.32), respectively (all P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 2005, the overall morbidity and mortality was 7.0% and 9.5%0, respectively in northeast China, and preterm delivery was the highest risk factor for neonatal mortality. The prevention on preterm delivery should be a top priority for the improvement of neonatal healthcare.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sun
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Qu
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Xiang
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Fu
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Yao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors