BIRTH-WEIGHT-SPECIFIC AND CAUSE OF DEATH- SPECIFIC NEONATAL-MORTALITYRATES IN THE ITALIAN REGIONS

Based on national data recorded by the Italian National Statistical In stitute (ISTAT), total, birthweight-specific and cause of death-specif ic neonatal mortality rates were computed for each Italian Region in 1 990. For the period 1988-1990 the birthweight-specific relative risk of neonatal death was computed in each Region with respect to the Regi on Lombardia, taken as the reference standard. There is a clear tenden cy for neonatal mortality to increase from Northern to Central to Sout hern Italian Regions. This trend is mainly related to a significative inter-regional variability, with North-to-South direction, of neonatal mortality in very low birthweight infants (500-1499 g.) and especiall y in moderately low, birthweight infants (1500-2499 g.), with relative risk values of 1.5 to 2.5. In the normal birthweight category (2500 g . +), interregional differences are less pronounced, with significativ ely high mortality rates in four Southern Regions only. Among caused o f neonatal death, ''RDS/immaturity''-related disorders rank first, fol lowed by ''congenital'' disorders and ''pregnancy/delivery''-related d isorders. Significative differences of cause-specific mortality are ob served among Northern, Central and Southern Italy, in the three birthw eight classes, mainly for respiratory disorders and infections.