Prevalence of Neonatal Mortality and its Associated Factors: A Meta-analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data from 21 Developing Countries

Neonatal mortality is high in developing countries, and reducing neonatal mortality is an indispensable part of the third Sustainable Development Goal. This study estimated the prevalence of neonatal mortality and the impact of maternal education, economic status, and utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services on neonatal mortality in developing countries. We used a cross-sectional study design to integrate data from 21 developing countries to acquire a wider perspective on neonatal mortality. A meta-analysis was conducted using the latest Demographic and Health Survey data from 21 developing countries. In addition, sensitivity analysis was adopted to assess the stability of the meta-analysis. The random-effects model indicated that women with higher education were less likely to experience neonatal death than mothers with up to primary education (odds ratio [OR] 0.820, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.740–0.910). Women with higher socioeconomic status were less likely to experience neonatal death than mothers with lower socioeconomic status (OR 0.823, 95% CI 0.747–0.908). Mothers with ANC were less likely to experience neonatal death than those with no ANC (OR 0.374, 95% CI 0.323–0.433). Subgroup analysis showed that maternal education and ANC were more effective in Asian countries. In this study, mothers’ lower educational level, poor economic status, and lack of ANC were statistically significant factors associated with neonatal death in developing countries. The effect of these factors on neonatal death differed in different regions.