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Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity: The Burden

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Clinical Anesthesia for the Newborn and the Neonate

Abstract

The greatest risk of death in the pediatric age is in the first 28 days of neonatal period life. Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is a huge burden globally. Ninety eight percent of neonatal deaths occur in the developing countries. In 2019, 2.4 million children died in the 1st month of life (6,700/day), with 1/3rd within 1st 24 h and 3/4th within the 1st week of life. (UNICEF 2020). India contributes to nearly 16% of maternal deaths and 27% newborn deaths. The actual figures are higher as many deaths go unreported, with a wide regional variation. Common causes of neonatal mortality are infections, birth asphyxia and injuries, premature births, and congenital defects. Efforts are being taken to bring NMR down comparable to developed countries, but more needs to be done. This requires simultaneous stringent approaches at all levels starting from public awareness and education, health of the girl child, preconception, antenatal up to postnatal care and continued into the neonatal care of the newborn baby, immunization, prevention, early detection and management of diseases and illness. Anesthesia related morbidity and mortality is also high in neonates born premature, with low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia, hypothermia, and congenital defects, added on to the risks due to the surgical condition. Preventive initiatives have a great impact on reducing perioperative morbidity and mortality in the surgical neonate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia, Pain and Palliative Care, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Smt Sucheta Kriplani and Kalawati saran Childrens Hospitals, New Delhi, India

    Usha Saha

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  1. Dept of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Pain and Palliative Care, Lady Hardinge Medical College Smt Sucheta Kriplani and Kalawati Saran Childrens Hospitals, New Delhi, India

    Usha Saha

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Saha, U. (2023). Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity: The Burden. In: Saha, U. (eds) Clinical Anesthesia for the Newborn and the Neonate. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5458-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5458-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-5458-0

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