[Causes of neonatal death in the Xiaogan region of Hubei Province between 2007 and 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To study the causes of neonatal death in the Xiaogan region of Hubei Province between 2007 and 2010. METHODS: The causes of 664 cases of neonatal death between 2007 and 2010, from 7 counties (cities) of the Xiaogan region of Hubei Province, were investigated. RESULTS: Neonatal mortality in the Xiaogan region between 2007 and 2010 accounted for 51.12% of under-five mortality. The top three causes of neonatal death in this region were preterm birth/low birth weight, birth asphyxia and congenital diseases. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to reduce neonatal mortality through the prevention of preterm birth, low birth weight, birth asphyxia and congenital defects.