title: Neonatal mortality and causes of death in Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Kersa HDSS), Ethiopia, 2008-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the world, Neonatal mortality accounts for 40 % of death of children under the age of 5 years. Majority of neonatal deaths occur in developing countries outside of formal health system, among which death in the first hour of first day of their life constitute the huge bulk. This analysis is intended to estimate neonatal mortality rates and identify the leading causes of death based on the surveillance data over 6 years period in Kersa health and demographic surveillance system (Kersa HDSS) site, Eastern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kersa HDSS is an open dynamic cohort of population established in 2007. The surveillance started after conducting a baseline census followed by population update and events registration on house-to-house visits every 6 months. Data were collected using verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaire from close relatives (usually mothers in this case) and causes of deaths were assigned by 2 to 3 physicians. This analysis was done based on 301 neonatal deaths and 10,934 live births occurred during 2008 to 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall neonatal death rate during the study period was 27.5 per 1000 live births. Nearly all neonatal deaths (94 %) occurred at home. More than four-fifth (82.4 %) of the deaths was occurred in the first week of life. More than 80 % of the deaths were due to perinatal causes. Bacterial sepsis of the newborn accounted for 31.2 % followed by birth asphyxia and perinatal respiratory disorder (28.2 %), and prematurity (17.3 %). Higher number of death was observed in Tolla and Bereka sub-districts located at the southern parts of the study site which are away from the main road network.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall neonatal mortality over 6 years is the same to the national average (27 per 1000 live births). The leading causes of neonatal death were bacterial sepsis of newborn and birth asphyxia. Community-based skilled health care delivery during birth should be emphasized.
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Nega
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0341-2329
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Assefa
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yihune
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lakew
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Betelhem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belay
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Haji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kedir
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Desalew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zelalem
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Negga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baraki
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Melake
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damena
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Lemessa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oljira
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Wondimye
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ashenafi
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 1494, Harar, Ethiopia ; College of Computing and Informatics, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Melkamu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dedefo
keywords: Causes of death; Ethiopia; Kersa HDSS; Neonatal deaths; Verbal autopsy