Trends in Neonatal Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2000

Thomas W. Pullum, ICF International
Rebecca Winter, ICF International

There have been dramatic improvements in child mortality in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa since 2000. However, neonatal mortality has generally been declining less rapidly than infant and under-five mortality and now represents a larger share of the total. Strategies to reduce neonatal mortality have become an increasing priority. A recent DHS report, by the authors of this submission and co-authors, found that improvements in neonatal mortality in Rwanda, although relatively modest, could be traced primarily to expanded coverage of bednets and secondarily to expanded coverage of ante-natal care. This report will apply similar methods, including a multivariate decomposition, to help understand the components of change in other countries of sub-Saharan Africa that have conducted two surveys since 2000. We will attempt to relate changes in neonatal mortality to changes in the coverage and quality of services.