Newborns have the highest risk of death among all children. The 4 million newborns who die each year now represent 40 percent of all deaths to children under age 5, yet little attention has been focused on this vulnerable group. Death rates among all children under age 5 have declined in recent decades, but newborn death rates have changed very little.

Causes of Newborn Deaths

Three main causes of death — infections, birth asphyxia, and preterm birth complications and low birth weight — account for an estimated 86 percent of all newborn deaths (Lawn JE et al). Save the Children's Saving Newborn Lives program, together with partners in the18 countries where it works, continues to develop the most innovative evidence to save newborn lives.

Most newborn deaths could be prevented if women had access to basic health care such as immunizations to protect expectant mothers and newborns against tetanus, skilled midwifery care during childbirth, timely and appropriate treatment of newborn infections, and proper attention to hygiene, warmth, and breastfeeding for new babies.

Save the Children works to improve health care to reduce newborn deaths in developing countries. As maternal and newborn health is so closely interrelated, the health and survival of newborns depends on the care provided to both. Save the Children's Saving Newborn Lives program works to make low-cost and feasible solutions more widely available among millions of women and newborns in need.

Save the Children also shares its experience and knowledge on the continuum of care and scaling up proven life-saving interventions.

Source: Lawn JE, et al. 4 million neonatal deaths: when? Where? Why? Lancet, 2005; 365: 891-900

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