For good measure: Near-birth anthropometry predicts neonatal and infant mortality

Authors: STEPHENSON, KEVIN - Washington University; HENDRIXSON, D - University Of Washington; MANARY, MARK - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2022
Publication Date: 5/1/2022
Citation: Stephenson, K.B., Hendrixson, D.T., Manary, M.J. 2022. For good measure: Near-birth anthropometry predicts neonatal and infant mortality. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 115(5):1259-1260. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac042.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac042

Interpretive Summary: Newborn death rates remain unacceptably high worldwide, and methods to identify babies at risk are needed. Newborns with smaller chest circumference in Bangladesh were found to be more likely to die. This observation can reliably incorporated into newborn health care.

Technical Abstract: An estimated 2.5 million neonates die each year, with nearly 80% of these deaths occurring in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Progress in reducing neonatal mortality has been slower than for overall child mortality and has been slowest in the very regions with the highest rates. Accurate tools for identifying neonates at the greatest risk of neonatal and infant mortality, using data from the first days of life, offer the potential to alert caregivers as to which newborns require more support. Deeper understanding of risk can also inform development of interventions. To date, most prediction model research in this domain has taken place in high-income countries or in hospital settings in low- and middle-income countries, using data that preclude application in rural clinics and at-home settings where many births leading to neonatal deaths occur. Although there are exceptions, this represents a large gap in understanding and a barrier to successful intervention in this critical area of need.