Do New Interventions Influence Neonatal Mortality? Evidence from Recent Population-Based Surveys

Alfredo L. Fort, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
Monica Kothari, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
Noureddine Abderrahim, Macro International Inc.

Neonatal mortality rates continue to be high in the developing world and their fraction over infant and childhood mortality increases, due to faster progress in the survival of older infants. There is renewed interest in interventions such as provision of thermal care, early postnatal care to mother and newborn, and counseling on health care to mothers. Questions about these interventions have recently been added to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) in five Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines, providing an opportunity to analyze their associations with neonatal mortality. Results indicate associations exist between mothers’ perceived size of their babies, birth weight, receipt of postpartum care, use of a sterilized delivery kit, wrapping of the baby after birth, giving mothers maternal and infant care advice, and reduced levels of neonatal mortality. These associations merit further investigation for their potential to contribute to policy design in this crucial area.