[Neonatal mortality in the Prokuplje General Hospital (1979-1988)].

The neonatal mortality in a 10-year period (1979-1988) was studied. On the basis of these studies it was evident that the mortality of newborn infants showed no tendency to significant decrease in contrast to that of postneonatal mortality. The majority of deceased newborn infants (73.71%) belonged to the group with small total body-mass at birth. The analysis of the time of death revealed that the first six days after birth were the most critical period when mortality reached 87.62% of the total number of deaths. A half of these babies (43.70%) did not survive the first day, i.e. they died within the first 24 hours. This high rate of early neonatal mortality was due to negative endogenous factors. The social data about the mothers of these babies are interesting: a great number originated from rural areas (53.10%); almost the three fourth of them (71.65%) were unemployed and 15.47% were monors. The following causes of death were predominant: asphyxia, bronchopneumonia, intracranial haemorrhagia and congenital anomaly. In order to save the children's health and life the problem of neonatal mortality requires a permanent expert activity in the protection of pregnant women and newborn infants.