Neonatal Mortality

Neonatal mortality showed a downward trend overall but was more erratic and had flatter temporal and spatial patterns than infant or under-5 mortality. Neonatal temporal effects stayed close to zero throughout 2000–2022, indicating slower progress in early-life survival than for older age groups. Neonatal mortality had more stable spatial effects and lower country-level variability than under-5 and infant mortality, suggesting different spatial drivers. The review accepts multiple definitions of neonatal mortality rather than limiting the outcome to death within 28 days of birth. Post-menstrual age is relevant for preterm infants still receiving care before discharge or death. Ethiopia's neonatal mortality rate was 30 deaths per 1,000 live births according to the 2019 Mini Demographic and Health Survey. Approximately 2.3 million newborns die each year, with the greatest burden concentrated in low- and middle-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In 2022, neonatal deaths accounted for nearly 47% of all deaths in children under five years worldwide. National-level fixed-effect covariates had almost no explanatory power for neonatal mortality, with posteri…