Determinants of Neonatal Mortality Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Care Unit at St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Why It Matters

The study pinpoints preventable service gaps that directly drive neonatal deaths, informing policymakers where to focus resources for maximal impact on Ethiopia’s SDG health targets.

Key Takeaways

• Lack of ANC visits increases mortality twelvefold
• Home deliveries raise death risk eight times
• Low birth weight associated with elevenfold mortality
• Pregnancy‑induced hypertension doubles neonatal death odds
• Prematurity quadruples risk of neonatal death

Pulse Analysis

Neonatal mortality remains a stark indicator of health system performance, with sub‑Saharan Africa accounting for the highest global rates. Ethiopia, despite recent gains, still records far more than the 12 deaths per 1,000 live births envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals. Understanding the local drivers of infant loss is essential for aligning national strategies with global health benchmarks and for allocating limited resources where they can save the most lives.

The St. Paul Hospital study examined 324 NICU cases over a three‑year period, employing multivariable logistic regression to isolate independent risk factors. Results revealed that mothers who missed ANC visits faced a twelve‑fold increase in neonatal death odds, while home births amplified risk eight times. Clinical complications such as pregnancy‑induced hypertension, low birth weight, prematurity, and fetal malpresentation also emerged as powerful predictors, each raising mortality odds substantially. These data provide a granular view of how both health‑service gaps and medical conditions converge to endanger newborns.

Policy implications are clear: strengthening ANC coverage, promoting institutional deliveries, and enhancing early‑life care for preterm and low‑weight infants must become priority actions. Investing in community outreach, training midwives, and equipping NICUs with appropriate technology can directly reduce the identified risk factors. By addressing these determinants, Ethiopia can accelerate progress toward its SDG commitments and set a regional example for reducing preventable neonatal deaths.