Risk factors contributing to neonatal mortality

Actual situation and trends of the neonatal mortality differ according to the area to a great extent. In Yamaguchi prefecture, the improvement of the neonatal mortality has not been effectively made and the leading cause of death was disorder of the respiratory function. In Wakayama prefecture, the developmen of medical facilities has made successful results in the neonatal mortality in spite of the increase in the rate of low weighted babies. Therefore, risk factors contributing to neonatal mortality and those to low weighy birth, respectively, were investigated based on the date from the former and the latter. The major factors causing the noenatal mortality were pre-term delivery, low weight birth, delivery outside the hospitals or clinics and late report on pregnancy. The late report on pregnancy, smoking habit and occurrence of severe morning sickness during the pregnancy were deeply related to the low weight birth. The results obtained suggest that the noenatal mortality rate may be effectively reduced if the early report on the pregnancy is made, and if the risk of the delivery of low weighted babies is prevented, and if the improvement of medical care facilities for perinatal care is made.