ObjectiveUnderstanding the causes of death is key to tackling the burden of three million annual neonatal deaths. Resource-poor settings lack effective vital registration systems for births, deaths and causes of death. We set out to describe cause-specific neonatal mortality in rural areas of Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal and rural and urban India using verbal autopsy (VA) data.DesignWe prospectively recorded births, neonatal deaths and stillbirths in seven population surveillance sites. VAs were carried out to ascertain cause of death. We applied descriptive epidemiological techniques and the InterVA method to characterise the burden, timing and causes of neonatal mortality at each site.ResultsAnalysis included 3772 neonatal deaths and 3256 stillbirths. Between 63% and 82% of neonatal deaths occurred in the first week of life, and males were more likely to die than females. Prematurity, birth asphyxia and infections accounted for most neonatal deaths, but important subnational and regional differences were observed. More than one-third of deaths in urban India were attributed to asphyxia, making it the leading cause of death in this setting.ConclusionsPopulation-based VA methods can fill information gaps on the burden and causes of neonatal mortality in resource-poor and data-poor settings. Local data should be used to inform and monitor the implementation of interventions to improve newborn health. High rates of home births demand a particular focus on community interventions to improve hygienic delivery and essential newborn care.

Background: Perinatal (stillbirths and fi rst week neonatal deaths) and neonatal (deaths in the fi rst 4 weeks) mortality rates remain high in developing countries like Nepal. As most births and deaths occur in the community, an option to ascertain causes of death is to conduct verbal autopsy. Objective: The objective of this study was to classify and review the causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Dhanusha district, Nepal. Materials and Methods: Births and neonatal deaths were identifi ed prospectively in 60 village development committees of Dhanusha district. Families were interviewed at six weeks after delivery, using a structured questionnaire. Cause of death was assigned independently by two pediatricians according to a predefi ned algorithm; disagreement was resolved in discussion with a consultant neonatologist. Results: There were 25,982 deliveries in the 2 years from September 2006 to August 2008. Verbal autopsies were available for 601/813 stillbirths and 671/954 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 60 per 1000 births and the neonatal mortality rate 38 per 1000 live births. 84% of stillbirths were fresh and obstetric complications were the leading cause (67%). The three leading causes of neonatal death were birth asphyxia (37%), severe infection (30%) and prematurity or low birth weight (15%). Most infants were delivered at home (65%), 28% by relatives. Half of women received an injection (presumably an oxytocic) during home delivery to augment labour. Description of symptoms commensurate with birth asphyxia was commoner in the group of infants who died (41%) than in the surviving group (14%). Conclusion:The current high rates of stillbirth and neonatal death in Dhanusha suggest that the quality of care provided during pregnancy and delivery remains sub-optimal. The high rates of stillbirth and asphyxial mortality imply that, while efforts to improve hygiene need to continue, intrapartum care is a priority. A second area for consideration is the need to reduce the uncontrolled use of oxytocic for augmentation of labour.

Introduction: The near miss concept and the criterion-based clinical audit are proposed as useful approaches for obtaining such information in newborn health care. There is currently no Standard definition and criteria for neonatal near miss especially for the community level intervention. Thus, lifesaving interventions could be an entry point to initiate the development of the neonatal near-miss definition. Mother and Infants Research Activities and Health Right International (HRI) developed a new tool for assessing neonatal near miss cases based on the Community based newborn care package programme. This is a part of operational research programme on strengthening the health facilities of Electoral constituency No; 2 of Arghakhanchi district of Nepal. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze neonatal near miss cases at different health facilities of Electoral constituency No; 2 of Arghakhanchi district, Nepal. Materials and Methods: One day of training on identifying neonatal near miss cases was given by an expert at Arghakhanchi district hospital to the health facilities staff in two groups. Health facility staffs were trained on identifying neonatal near miss cases and completing the modified neonatal near miss case forms. Neonatal near miss cases were documented for nine months period. Results: There were a total of 28 cases of neonatal near miss reported from different health facilities. Among them, 90% babies were delivered at health facility and 72% babies were of normal birth weight. Low birth weight incidence is 21% among near miss cases. Neonatal near miss contributed possible severe bacterial infection/ severe infection 47%, birth asphyxia in 43% cases and very low birth weight 7%. Conclusions: Birth asphyxia and PSBI were the two most common causes of neonatal near miss in the health facilities of Arghakhanchi district. There is a need to improve the quality of neonatal care in health facilities to properly manage these neonatal near miss cases which were referred to higher centre.

Introduction: Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) is an acute lung disease of preterm babies caused by surfactant insufficiency. Decreased surfactant results in insufficient surface tension in the alveolus during expiration leading to alveolar collapse, atelectasis, impaired gas exchange, severe hypoxia and acidosis, leading to respiratory failure. Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) is now accepted as the standard treatment of preterm babies with HMD. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of surfactant replacement therapy in preterm babies with hyaline membrane disease. Methodology: This is a prospective observational study conducted at 10 bedded neonatal unit of Pediatrics Department, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Sinamangal. Study duration was of one year period (15 May 2017 – 14 May 2018). Preterm babies from 26 wks–35 wks of gestation with Hyaline Membrane Disease were included in this study whereas babies with lethal congenital malformations eg: Meningomyelocele, Anencephaly, Gastrochisis, Diaphragmatic Hernia were excluded. All preterm babies who had clinical and radiological features of HMD were considered for Surfactant Replacement Therapy (SRT). The surfactant (Survanta; Abboti Laboratories, USA; Dose: 4 ml/kg) was administered intra-tracheally according to standard procedures in four divided aliquot applying INSURE (intubation, surfactant administration and extubation to Bubble CPAP) Technique. Ethical clearance was received from Institutional Review Committee (IRC) of Kathmandu Medical College and Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 19 version with frequency and cross tabulation. Results: In this study of 30 preterm babies with HMD received SRT, 47% (14) were male and 53% (16) were female. The mean birth weight of preterm babies with HMD was 1372.17 ± 395 gms and mean gestational age was 30.1±2.6 weeks. Among 30 preterm babies with HMD receiving SRT, 73.3% (22 babies) discharged from the hospital and 6.3% (8 babies) expired. Among eight expired babies, five died due to pulmonary hemorrhage and three died due to septicemia with DIC. Maximum survival was seen in the gestational age of 30-35 wks and birth weight 1200-2100gms. Conclusion: The use of SRT has improved the survival outcome and decreased the associated morbidities in babies with HMD. The maximum impact of survival was seen among the preterm babies of 30- 35 weeks with birth weight of 1200 -2100 grams.

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology of home-related and work-related injuries, their mechanisms, inequalities and costs associated with these injuries.MethodsA household survey was undertaken in three palikas of Makwanpur district between April and June 2019. Data were collected electronically on non-fatal injuries that occurred in the previous 3 months and fatal injuries that occurred in the previous 5 years.Findings17 593 individuals were surveyed from 3327 households. Injury rates were 8.0 per 1000 population for home injuries and 6.4 per 1000 for work-related injuries; 61.0% of home injuries were among women and 69.9% of work-related injuries among men. Falls were the cause of 48% home injuries, affecting 50.9% of men and 46.5% of women. Burns/scalds were higher in women than men, affecting 17.4% of women reporting home injuries. Cuts and piercings accounted for 39.8% of all work-related injuries and 36.3% were falls. Injury incidence varied by ethnic group: home injuries were highest in Brahmin (12.0 per 1000) and work-related injuries highest in Rai groups (21.0 per 1000). The total mean costs (transport and treatment) of work-related injury was US$143.3 (SD 276.7), higher than for home injuries (US$130.4, SD 347.6). The number of home (n=74, 64.9%) and work-related (n=67, 77.9%) injuries were higher in families below the poverty line than families in the next income bracket (home: n=22, 19.3%; work: n=11, 12.8%).ConclusionsHome-related and work-related fall injuries are common. The inequalities in injury identified in our study by rurality, age, sex, income level and ethnic group can help target injury prevention interventions for vulnerable groups.