Articles: mortality.
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'Children represent the most vulnerable segment of every society--and they are our present and future. Good health, especially of children, promotes personal and national development. Scientific progress, matched with improved capacities of all countries to immunize their children, provides an unparalleled opportunity to save additional lives and prevent additional millions of disabilities annually through a Children's Vaccine Initiative.' (The Netherlands Minister for Development Co-operation.)
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Neonatal tetanus (NT) can be effectively prevented through immunization and clean delivery practices. However, NT claimed the lives of over 433,000 infants in 1991. It is endemic in 90 countries throughout the world. ⋯ NT consistently clusters in geographical areas and population groups where shared practices or the environment enhance the risk of cord contamination. 80% of the newborns who died of NT in 1991 were born in South-East Asia or Africa. Of the 90 countries endemic for NT, 10% produce 80% of the world's NT deaths. NT also clusters at country level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Between January 1984 and December 1987, 1509 singleton neonates were admitted into Special Care Baby Unit at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; 29(1.9%) of these were Extreme Low Birthweight (ELBW), 86(5.7%) were Very Low Birthweight (VLBW), 406(26.9%) were Low Birthweight (LBW) and 988 (65.5%) were Normal Birthweight (NBW) infants. Survival rates in the four categories were 10.3%, 46.5%, 89.2% and 94.7% respectively. ⋯ Care of the VLBW infant is not beyond the capabilities of Special Care Baby units in developing countries. In the light of our report, survival of Low Birthweight infants is a strong reflection of that of VLBW infants and survival of this category of babies could be improved by instituting general measures such as those aimed at reducing the incidence of LBW in the environment and by specific measures like carrying out prompt and effective resuscitation of the asphyxiated neonate and preventing sepsis.
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This study examined the association between exposure to occupational hazards and pregnancy outcomes using data from a case-control study conducted in 29 hospitals in Shanghai, China. The sample included 1,875 perinatal deaths and newborns with birth defects and the same number of controls. Information on mother's exposure to occupational radiation, chemicals, noise, and pesticides was investigated. ⋯ Furthermore, higher than expected numbers of congenital anomalies in the central nervous system (CNS) were identified among women exposed to chemicals before pregnancy and to pesticides during the first trimester of pregnancy. No significant association was found between occupational exposure and intrapartum fetal death. Although recall bias may be possible in our study, the findings encourage further research.