USING SURVEY DATA TO ASSESS NEONATAL TETANUS MORTALITY LEVELS AND TRENDS IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

Demographic and health surveys are a useful source of information on t he levels and trends of neonatal mortality in developing countries. Su ch surveys provide data on mortality occurring at 4-14 days of life, w hich is a sensitive indicator of neonatal tetanus mortality. We analyz e birth history data from 37 national surveys in developing countries to assess the quality of neonatal mortality data and to estimate level s and trends in mortality occurring at 4-14 days. It is shown that mor tality at 4-14 days has declined considerably during the last decade i n most developing countries, concomitant with development and expansio n of programs to reduce neonatal tetanus. These declines show that red uctions in neonatal tetanus mortality probably have been an important contributor to the decline of neonatal and infant mortality during the 1980s.