Neonatal Hospital Mortality in South Vietnam

project summary

Overall aim: To examine newborn hospital mortality in South Vietnam in order to design intervention studies to be conducted in the next project phase. The studies are conducted in a tertiary specialized hospital and 3 referring secondary general province hospitals in 12 months periods in 2009-2011. Specific aims: 1. To conduct a prospective cohort studies including data registration on admission of all newborns. The infants are followed until discharge or death. Cases are defined as death at age < 29 days, either in hospital or at home after termination of treatment. Primary outcome is Case Fatality Rate and risk/ protective factors at admission associated with newborn hospital mortality. Further, the newborn population admitted to the hospital is described. 2. To conduct prospective qualitative studies of events during hospitalization on all cases from the cohort study. Hospital risk factors of neonatal hospital mortality and possible interventions are identified in a structured audit procedure. Intervention studies designed according to the findings in the present baseline studies will be conducted in the next project phase, planned in 2012. The project is part of a long lasting development cooperation and is part a broader child survival project, supported by The Danida Bistandsfond. The project group includes specialists and 2 PhD students from Denmark and Vietnam. Communication includes international peer reviewed publications and reporting to hospitals and health authorities.