Page 212 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Neonatal mortality in Pakistan

the mothers’ health deteriorating throughout multiple Latif Kiani
pregnancies. Another important factor is birth weight, Investigation: Javed Ali, Rabia Zafar
as smaller babies are more susceptible to neonatal death Methodology: Muhammad Mohsin Latif Kiani
than those with medium or large birth weights. The study Writing – original draft: Amna Noor Asim, Aysha Sheraz
also revealed that male newborns have a lower likelihood Writing – review & editing: Amna Noor Asim, Muhammad
of mortality than female newborns, potentially due to Mohsin Latif Kiani
biological differences and healthcare-seeking variables.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
In addition, maternal characteristics such as age,
employment status, and education level significantly impact Not Applicable.
NM. NM is more prevalent among very young mothers Consent for publication
and those older than 35, as well as among women with
lower levels of education. Working mothers also encounter Not Applicable.
additional difficulties, possibly due to constraints on their
access to healthcare. Finally, this study highlights regional Availability of data
disparities in NM across Pakistan, with the highest rates The data used to draw analysis and all the supporting
found in KP and Balochistan. Cultural customs, disparities endorsements or any conclusive statements supported by
in maternal healthcare services, and restricted access to any data can be accessed from the references and the data
healthcare facilities may have contributed to these regional is available on the website of NIPS nips.org.pk/publicdata/
disparities. Overall, the study emphasizes the influence of micro-data-set-of-pakistan-demographic-and-health-
maternal characteristics, geographic factors, and healthcare survey-2017-18-in-stata-format.
accessibility on newborn outcomes. Understanding these
factors is essential for improving newborn survival rates. References
The study’s conclusions are highly pertinent to Pakistan’s Agha, S. (2000). The determinants of infant mortality in Pakistan.
efforts to fulfill the SDGs, particularly SDG 3, which focuses Social Science and Medicine, 51(2):199-208.
on well-being and ensuring healthy lives. Specifically, SDG https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00460-8
3.2 aims to reduce NMR to at least 12/1,000 live births Ajaari, J. (2013). Impact of place of delivery on neonatal mortality
by 2030. The study’s findings reinforce the importance of in rural Tanzania. Value in Health, 16(3):A209-A210.
expanding healthcare services for mothers and newborns https://doi.org/S1098-3015(13)01130-3/fulltext
to achieve this target. Furthermore, tackling differences in
healthcare access across various socioeconomic categories Alhassan, R.K., Owusu-Agyei, S., Ansah, E.K., Gyapong, M.,
and geographical regions aligns with SDG 10, which seeks Ashinyo, A., Ashinyo, M.E., et al. (2020). Trends and
to reduce inequality. Enhancing maternal education and correlates of maternal, newborn and child health services
awareness about newborn health also supports SDG 4, utilization in primary healthcare facilities: An explorative
ecological study using DHIMSII data from one district in
which prioritizes quality education and lifelong learning. the Volta region of Ghana. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth,
By focusing on these issues, Pakistan can significantly 20:1-15.
improve newborn survival rates and fulfill its international
health obligations. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03195-1
Chishtie, J., Chishtie, F., & Jaglal, S. (2021). Exploring knowledge
Acknowledgments translation practices in a global health program: Case study
on the establishment of the Pakistan National Maternal,
None.
Neonatal, and Child Health Program. Journal of Public
Funding Health, 29:215-228.
Das, U., Chaplot, B., & Azamathulla, H.M. (2021). The role of
None. place of delivery in preventing neonatal and infant mortality
rate in India. Geographies, 1(1):47-62.
Conflict of interest
https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies1010004
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
Demisse, A.G., Alemu, F., Gizaw, M.A., & Tigabu, Z. (2017). Patterns
Author contributions of admission and factors associated with neonatal mortality
among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of
Conceptualization: Amna Noor Asim University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Pediatric
Formal analysis: Amna Noor Asim, Muhammad Mohsin Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 8:57-64.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 204 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.5089