Neonatal mortality clustering in the central districts of Ghana

Spatial patterns and temporal trends in stillbirth, neonatal, and infant mortality: an exploration of country-level data from 2000 to 2021

Background

Despite significant progress in improving child survival and health, substantial disparities persist and are being increasingly threatened by a complex and dynamic global environment. In this ecological study, we investigated spatial patterns, temporal trends, and key determinants of disparities in stillbirth, neonatal, and infant mortality rates across 195 countries from 2000 to 2021.

Methods

We sourced our data from two publicly available databases: the United Nations Children's Fund Data Warehouse for mortality indicators and the World Bank for World Development Indicators. We conducted spatial analysis to assess spatial autocorrelation and identify geographical clusters of countries and applied joinpoint regression to evaluate temporal trends in mortality indicators, reported as annual percentage change. We also used forward regression analysis to determine the primary indicators influencing stillbirth, neonatal, and infant mortality rates.

Results

The average stillbirth rate in 2021 was 10.9 per 1000 total births, a significant decrease from 16.3 per 1000 in 2000. Neonatal mortality also declined from 23.6 to 13.5 per 1000 live births during the same period, while infant mortality dropped from 45.0 to 22.5 per 1000 live births. Despite these improvements, spatial analysis showed notable positive spatial autocorrelations for stillbirth, neonatal, and infant mortality rates, indicating that high mortality rates were geographically clustered, particularly in African countries forming hot-spot clusters. Conversely, developed countries in Europe and Asia formed cold-spot clusters characterised by low mortality indicators. Some countries, identified as low-high or high-low clusters, stood out due to dissimilar mortality rates compared to their neighbours, warranting further investigation. Key determinants of mortality rates included the young-age dependency ratio, prevalence of undernourishment, the percentage of women aged 15 and older living with HIV, the incidence of tuberculosis, and the adolescent fertility rate - all of which showed a positive association with higher mortality rates. In contrast, factors such as the use of at least basic sanitation services, mean years of schooling, and government effectiveness had an inverse relationship, contributing to lower mortality rates.

Conclusions

By identifying hotspots and outliers, this study highlights the need for targeted health interventions and efficient resource allocation. This approach ensures that efforts are strategic and impactful, focussing on areas with the greatest need.

Predictors of neonatal mortality in the Eastern Regional Hospital in Ghana: A retrospective cohort study

Neonatal mortality accounts for nearly half of under-5 mortality in Ghana. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of neonatal mortality in the Eastern Regional Hospital, Ghana. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted using secondary data from electronic medical records from the Eastern Regional Hospital between 1st January 2022 and 31st December 2022. The Kaplan-Meier estimator and adjusted Cox regression model were used to estimate survival probability and to assess the predictors of neonatal mortality. Data on 1684 neonates were analyzed and we found that 11.82% deaths occurred with a neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of 13.98 (95% CI: 12.05, 15.91) per 1000 person-days. Most neonatal deaths occurred within the first 24hrs of life (9.9%). The predictors of neonatal mortality were found to be low birthweight [Adjusted hazard rate (aHR): 1.63, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.54], hypothermia (aHR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.85), hyperthermia (aHR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.39), birth asphyxia (aHR: 3.69, 95% CI: 1.68, 8.11), and multiparty (aHR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.70). However, neonates aged 8-28 days (aHR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.81), born in the Eastern Regional Hospital (aHR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.55), walk-in neonates (aHR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.90), and neonates whose mothers had 8 or more antenatal contacts (aHR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.92) had lower neonatal mortality. There was high NMR in the Eastern Regional Hospital in Ghana. Averting complications such as low birthweight, hypothermia, hyperthermia, birth asphyxia, including the provision of obstetric and early neonatal care within the first 24 hours of life is critical to reducing neonatal mortality. Adherence to the World Health Organization's recommendation of 8 or more antenatal contacts among pregnant women is also essential in reducing neonatal mortality.

Factors Associated with Caesarean and Peripartum Complications at Southern Mozambique’s Rural Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Information about factors underlying peripartum complications is needed to inform health programs in Mozambique. This retrospective study covered the period from January 2013 to December 2018 and was performed at three rural-district hospitals in southern Mozambique, aiming at assessing factors associated with caesarean and peripartum complications. Data were extracted by clinical criteria-based audits on randomly select clients’ files. Logistical regression was used to identify factors associated with peripartum complications. Amongst 5068 audited files, women mean age was 25 years (Standard Deviation (SD) = 7), gestational age was 38 weeks (SD = 2), 25% had “high obstetric-risk” and 19% delivered by caesarean. Factors significantly associated with caesarean included being transferred [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) =1.8; 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) = 1.3–2.6], preeclampsia [aOR (95%CI) = 2.0 (1.2–3.3)], age [aOR (95%CI) = 0.96 (0.93–0.99)] and “high obstetric-risk” [aOR (95%CI) = 0.54 (0.37–0.78)]. Factors significantly associated with neonatal complication included mother being transferred [aOR (95%CI) = 2.1 (1.8–2.6)], “high obstetric-risk” [aOR (95%CI) = 1.6 (1.3–1.96)], preeclampsia [aOR (95%CI) = 1.5 (1.2–1.8), mother’s age [aOR (95%CI) = −2% (−3%, −0.1%)] and gestational age [aOR (95%CI) = −8% (−13%, −6%)] increment. This study identified amendable factors associated with peripartum complications in rural referral health settings. Strengthening hospitals’ performance assurance is critical to address the identified factors and improve peripartum outcomes for mothers-neonate dyads.