Neonatal mortality and morbidity in regional provincial hospitals in the people's Democratic Republic of Laos

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify the causes and incidences of neonatal diseases and deaths in five provincial hospitals in People's Democratic Republic of Laos retrospectively for the years 2010-12. METHODS Data of neonatal patients were collected before a 3-year-training program for medical and nursing staff involved in the care of newborn infants in the provincial and associated district hospitals. RESULTS In the years 2010-12, a total of 1673 neonatal patients were treated in the provincial hospitals. The reasons of treatment were as follows: 48% infections, 17% complications of prematurity, 14% intrapartum-related complications and 9% other, not categorized diseases. The average mortality rate in all hospitals was 6.5%. The main causes of death were complications because of prematurity, infectious diseases and asphyxia. CONCLUSION These data could be the basis for any teaching program aimed at reducing neonatal mortality. Furthermore, they enable an evaluation of the ongoing teaching program