Early neonatal mortality in the gynaecological-obstetrics hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam.

A retrospective study was conducted of a series of 18,834 births at the gyn aecological-obstetrics hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam, from January 1 - 1991 to December 31-1995. The mean early neonatal mortality rate was 24.4 ". Durin g the study period, a considerable decrease in rate was observed which was attributed to a change in patient profile. The registered causes of death w ere primarily due to premature delivery and/or respiratory distress (70%.). Forty-nine percent of the early neonatal deaths occurred during the first day of life. The risk factors for early neonatal death were assessed. Impro ved surveillance at the hospital of delivery practices is necessary and the problem of prematurity should be approached from a broad perspective.