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Can You Use DHS To Calculate Neonatal Mortality? – Definitive Guide | DHS Data Explorer
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Neonatal mortality is a critical indicator in global health. This guide explains how DHS (Demographic and Health Surveys) data is used to calculate neonatal mortality and provides practical examples.
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Total neonatal deaths recorded in the survey period
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Total live births in the same period
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Typical DHS surveys cover 3–5 years
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What is Neonatal Mortality?
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Neonatal mortality refers to the number of deaths occurring among live-born infants during the first 28 completed days of life. This critical period accounts for a significant proportion of child mortality globally. Understanding how to calculate neonatal mortality is essential for public health programs, researchers, and policymakers aiming to reduce child deaths and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
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Who Should Use This Calculator?
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- Public health professionals
- Global health researchers
- Maternal and child health program managers
- Students in demography and epidemiology
- NGO program staff
- Government health officials
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Common Misconceptions About Neonatal Mortality Calculations:
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- Myth: Neonatal mortality includes stillbirths. Reality: Neonatal mortality only includes live births that die within 28 days. Stillbirths are separate.
- Myth: Any infant death after birth is neonatal mortality. Reality: The 28-day cutoff is critical. Deaths after this period are classified as post-neonatal mortality.
- Myth: DHS data is always complete and accurate. Reality: DHS surveys have sampling errors and recall biases that must be considered in calculations.
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Neonatal Mortality Formula and Mathematical Explanation
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The neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is calculated using a straightforward formula that relates the number of neonatal deaths to the number of live births in a specific population and time period.
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The Formula:
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Neonatal Mortality Rate = (Number of Neonatal Deaths / Number of Live Births) × 1000
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Step-by-Step Derivation:
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- Step 1: Identify the numerator. Count the number of infants who died within the first 28 days of life. This data comes from birth histories collected in surveys like DHS.
- Step 2: Identify the denominator. Count the total number of live births in the same time period. It is crucial that the births and deaths refer to the same population and time frame.
- Step 3: Divide the neonatal deaths by the number of live births. This gives the mortality rate per single live birth.
- Step 4: Multiply by 1000. Standardizing the rate per 1000 live births makes it easier to compare between populations and over time.
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Variable Explanations:
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