WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Zahraa Adnan Qassim and Batool Ali Ghalib Yassin

ABSTRACT

Background: Neonatal mortality is not just a local issue but a global concern. It is a critical indicator of healthcare quality, especially in low and middle-income countries. The global community has made reducing neonatal mortality a priority under the Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on factors like prematurity, infections, birth asphyxia, and congenital anomalies. This study is part of that global effort, aiming to contribute to understanding neonatal mortality in Iraq and the world. Objectives of the Study: To describe the trend of neonatal mortality in Iraq during 2016-2021 and determine the most common causes of neonatal mortality. Methods: This research is based on comprehensive data from the Iraqi Ministry of Health from 2016-2021. The data encompassed sociodemographic information, gestational age, gender, weight of neonates, maternal age, mode and place of delivery, and causes of death. The data were meticulously analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26, focusing on frequency and relative frequency. Results: The study recorded 67,295 neonatal deaths in Iraq (excluding the Kurdistan region) from 2016 to 2021. The neonatal mortality rate fluctuated, peaking at 14.06 per 1000 live births in 2019. Baghdad had the highest neonatal mortality number, followed by Basra. However, the highest neonatal mortality rate per 1000 live births was recorded in Al-Najaf. The leading causes of death were respiratory distress syndrome (39.2%), sepsis (14.4%) and prematurity (13.2%). Significant differences were noted between the MOH and WHO NMR registered from 2016 to 2021; however, both data show a downward trend. Conclusions: This study's findings are significant, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to reduce neonatal mortality in Iraq. The neonatal mortality rate per 1000 live births decreased in 2017, peaked in 2019, and gradually declined in 2020 and 2021. Key factors influencing neonatal mortality, such as gestational age, gender, birth weight, and maternal age, were found to be most prevalent in general hospitals.