A systematic review of the burden of neonatal mortality and morbidity in the ASEAN Region

Neonatal morbidity and mortality are major global public health challenges representing an increasing proportion of overall under-5 child mortality, with the vast majority of neonatal deaths occurring in resource-limited settings. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, it is estimated that approximately 200 000 neonatal deaths occur annually with reported estimates of the neonatal mortality rate ranging from 1 to over 30 per 1000 live-births, depending on the setting. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of published data on neonatal morbidity and mortality from the ASEAN region over the last 10 years. Very few published studies reporting neonatal morbidity and mortality in this region were found. Importantly, data are available from just a few countries, with an underrepresentation of the most resource-limited settings. The majority of the studies describing mortality and morbidity were retrospective surveys or focussed on a specific cause of neonatal morbidity. Studies included findings from a range of settings, from neonatal intensive care to community settings utilizing verbal autopsy. Therefore, comprehensive and prospective data are needed to inform priorities and potential interventions to improve neonatal care and reduce neonatal mortality in this region.

[1]  M. Jackson,et al.  Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis and Meningitis. , 2014, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

[2]  D. P. Hoa,et al.  Causes of neonatal death: results from NeoKIP community‐based trial in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam , 2012, Acta paediatrica.

[3]  Joy E. Lawn,et al.  Neonatal Mortality Levels for 193 Countries in 2009 with Trends since 1990: A Systematic Analysis of Progress, Projections, and Priorities , 2011, PLoS medicine.

[4]  C. Rao,et al.  Utility of local health registers in measuring perinatal mortality: A case study in rural Indonesia , 2011, BMC pregnancy and childbirth.

[5]  Z. Bhutta,et al.  Maternal, neonatal, and child health in southeast Asia: towards greater regional collaboration , 2011, The Lancet.

[6]  I. Rudan,et al.  Setting Research Priorities to Reduce Almost One Million Deaths from Birth Asphyxia by 2015 , 2011, PLoS medicine.

[7]  W. Carlo,et al.  Reducing intrapartum-related neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries-what works? , 2010, Seminars in perinatology.

[8]  Gary L Darmstadt,et al.  Preventing preterm birth and neonatal mortality: exploring the epidemiology, causes, and interventions. , 2010, Seminars in perinatology.

[9]  S. Cousens,et al.  3.6 million neonatal deaths--what is progressing and what is not? , 2010, Seminars in perinatology.

[10]  I. Mogren,et al.  Adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes and their determinants in rural Vietnam 1999-2005. , 2010, Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology.

[11]  L. Wright,et al.  Newborn Care Training of Midwives and Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality Rates in a Developing Country , 2010, Pediatrics.

[12]  L. Wallin,et al.  Perinatal services and outcomes in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam , 2010, Acta paediatrica.

[13]  P. Kuhn,et al.  Incidence and distribution of pathogens in early-onset neonatal sepsis in the era of antenatal antibiotics. , 2010, Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology.

[14]  B. Stoll,et al.  International perspective on early-onset neonatal sepsis. , 2010, Clinics in perinatology.

[15]  Simon Cousens,et al.  ‘Kangaroo mother care’ to prevent neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications , 2010, International journal of epidemiology.

[16]  Z. Bhutta,et al.  Global report on preterm birth and stillbirth (3 of 7): evidence for effectiveness of interventions , 2010, BMC pregnancy and childbirth.

[17]  W. Janjindamai,et al.  Outcomes of very low birth weight infants in Songklanagarind Hospital. , 2010, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[18]  J. Lawn,et al.  Reducing intrapartum‐related deaths and disability: Can the health system deliver? , 2009, International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

[19]  P. Tsao,et al.  Neonatal sepsis: a 6-year analysis in a neonatal care unit in Taiwan. , 2009, Pediatrics and neonatology.

[20]  S. Isaranurug,et al.  Perinatal death pattern in the four districts of Thailand: findings from the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children (PCTC). , 2009, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[21]  D. Hamer,et al.  High Frequency of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Rods in 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the Philippines , 2009, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

[22]  P. Sauer,et al.  Neonatal sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit in Indonesia. , 2009, The Journal of hospital infection.

[23]  P. Lumbiganon,et al.  Use of antenatal corticosteroids prior to preterm birth in four South East Asian countries within the SEA-ORCHID project , 2008, BMC pregnancy and childbirth.

[24]  E. Eckermann,et al.  Maternity waiting homes in Southern Lao PDR: The unique ‘silk home’ , 2008, The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research.

[25]  N. Boo,et al.  Risk factors associated with low birth weight infants in the Malaysian population. , 2008, The Medical journal of Malaysia.

[26]  D. Isaacs,et al.  Neonatal infections in Asia , 2008, Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition.

[27]  M. Dibley,et al.  Determinants of neonatal mortality in Indonesia , 2008, BMC public health.

[28]  L. Wallin,et al.  Bmc International Health and Human Rights Unreported Births and Deaths, a Severe Obstacle for Improved Neonatal Survival in Low-income Countries; a Population Based Study , 2008 .

[29]  P. Sritipsukho,et al.  Survival and outcome of very low birth weight infants born in a university hospital with level II NICU. , 2007, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[30]  N. French,et al.  Invasive Group B Streptococcal Infection in Infants, Malawi , 2007, Emerging infectious diseases.

[31]  P. Praisuwanna,et al.  Risk factors for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in asphyxiated newborn infants. , 2006, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[32]  E. M. Symonds,et al.  Audit of birth defects in 34,109 deliveries in a tertiary referral center. , 2005, The Medical journal of Malaysia.

[33]  G. Yeo,et al.  Birth defects in Singapore: 1994-2000. , 2005, Singapore medical journal.

[34]  M. Molyneux,et al.  Aetiology of neonatal sepsis in Blantyre, Malawi: 1996–2001 , 2005, Annals of tropical paediatrics.

[35]  M. Thong,et al.  A population-based study of birth defects in Malaysia , 2005, Annals of human biology.

[36]  S. Chia,et al.  Parental occupations and other risk factors associated with nonchromosomal single, chromosomal single, and multiple birth defects: a population-based study in Singapore from 1994 to 1998. , 2003, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[37]  P. Yossuck,et al.  Neonatal group B streptococcal infection: incidence and clinical manifestation in Siriraj Hospital. , 2002, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[38]  C. Yeo,et al.  Two-year outcome of normal-birth-weight infants admitted to a Singapore neonatal intensive care unit. , 2002, Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.

[39]  J. Ho.  Mortality and morbidity of the small for gestational age (SGA) very low birth weight (VLBW) Malaysian infant. , 2001, Singapore medical journal.

[40]  J. Ho.  Late onset infection in very low birth weight infants in Malaysian Level 3 neonatal nurseries , 2001, The Pediatric infectious disease journal.

[41]  A. Costello,et al.  Neonatal mortality of low-birth-weight infants in Bangladesh. , 2001, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.