The geographical variation in neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in South Africa, 1978-1982.

Early neonatal, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality rates were systematically calculated according to the statistical regions of South Africa for the white and coloured populations over a 5-year period. The geographical variation is wide and the statistical significance in these mortality rates for coloured infants in rural areas of the Cape and the Orange Free State are particularly high and call for urgent attention.