世界卫生组织与救助儿童会等机构３０日在美国《科学公共图书馆医学卷》月刊上发表迄今最全面新生儿死亡研究结果。研究显示，全球新生儿死亡人数已从１９９０年的４６０万降至２００９年的３３０万，总体呈减少趋势，其中中国的新生儿死亡危险降低一半，不过全球总体“进展过于缓慢，而非洲在这方面则远远落在后面”。
研究还表明，四分之三的新生儿死亡，即发生在生命最初四周的死亡，由３方面原因造成：早产、窒息和包括脓毒症及肺炎在内的重症感染。现有干预措施如果能够覆盖到有需要的人群，就能够预防三分之二或更多的此类死亡发生。
这项研究横跨２０年、覆盖世卫组织全体１９３个会员。研究发现，自１９９０年以来，全球新生儿死亡数不断下降，尤其是２０００年以来，由于对妇幼卫生保健的投入有所加大，新生儿死亡数量降幅“略微加大”。与此同时，母亲存活率和５岁以下儿童存活率方面取得更大进展。
研究显示，非洲由于其１％的年降低率在全世界进展最为缓慢。在全球１５个新生儿死亡率高于每１０００名活产新生儿３９例死亡的国家中，１２个是非洲国家，包括安哥拉、乍得和塞拉利昂等。按照非洲大陆目前的进展速度，要达到美国或英国的新生儿存活水平，还需要１５０年以上。
世卫组织与救助儿童会当天发表联合公报，呼吁有关国家开展更多降低新生儿死亡率的行动。公报说：“生命最初的一周对于新生儿而言是最危险的一周，但在许多国家，覆盖处于这一关键时期的母婴产后保健项目才刚刚开始。”
生物探索推荐英文论文摘要：
Abstract
Background
Historically, the main focus of studies of childhood mortality has been the infant and under-five mortality rates. Neonatal mortality (deaths <28 days of age) has received limited attention, although such deaths account for about 41% of all child deaths. To better assess progress, we developed annual estimates for neonatal mortality rates (NMRs) and neonatal deaths for 193 countries for the period 1990–2009 with forecasts into the future.
Methods and Findings
We compiled a database of mortality in neonates and children (<5 years) comprising 3,551 country-years of information. Reliable civil registration data from 1990 to 2009 were available for 38 countries. A statistical model was developed to estimate NMRs for the remaining 155 countries, 17 of which had no national data. Country consultation was undertaken to identify data inputs and review estimates. In 2009, an estimated 3.3 million babies died in the first month of life—compared with 4.6 million neonatal deaths in 1990—and more than half of all neonatal deaths occurred in five countries of the world (44% of global livebirths): India 27.8% (19.6% of global livebirths), Nigeria 7.2% (4.5%), Pakistan 6.9% (4.0%), China 6.4% (13.4%), and Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6% (2.1%). Between 1990 and 2009, the global NMR declined by 28% from 33.2 deaths per 1,000 livebirths to 23.9. The proportion of child deaths that are in the neonatal period increased in all regions of the world, and globally is now 41%. While NMRs were halved in some regions of the world, Africa's NMR only dropped 17.6% (43.6 to 35.9).
Conclusions
Neonatal mortality has declined in all world regions. Progress has been slowest in the regions with high NMRs. Global health programs need to address neonatal deaths more effectively if Millennium Development Goal 4 (two-thirds reduction in child mortality) is to be achieved.
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