Neonatal mortality and associated factors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional population-based study

BACKGROUND: The neonatal period is the most critical time of human life for diseases. Neonatal morbidity and mortality are significant contributors to under-five morbidity and mortality in a low-income country like Ethiopia. Women are one of the key actors for the improvement of maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare utilization. However, there's no evidence on the association of women’s decision-making autonomy with neonate death at a national level in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the neonatal mortality and associated factors in Ethiopia. METHODS: A total of 5128 neonates born 5 years before the survey from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 were reviewed. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to assess the effect of women's autonomy and identify the determinate predictors of neonate death risk. RESULTS: The rate of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia was 20.7 per 1000 live births). Women's hadn't autonomy in health care increase neonatal death by 2.72 times compared with those that had autonomy. Hadn't postnatal care was caused grown neonatal death by 5.48 times (AOR 5.48, 95% CI 1.29, 23.26). Delivering at a health institution had 0.61 times lowered neonatal death risk compared with delivering at of health institution without a health facility (AOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38,0.97). Breastfeeding immediately within 1 h after birth had 0.17 times reduce neonatal death risk compared with not initiation of breastfeeding (AOR 0.17, 95% CI 0.12, 0.26). Women's gave birth single had 0.09 times reduced neonatal death risk than those that gave birth multiple (AOR 0.09, 95% CI 0.05, 0.18). Unknowingly, male neonates had a 1.84 times higher risk of death than females (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.20, 2.81). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal mortality rate was significantly related to women's hadn't decided power on health care, hadn't postnatal care, delivered out of health institution, breastfed not immediately, and gave birth multiple. It is important to encourage mothers autonomy, use postnatal care service, and deliver in health institutions.