Pediatrics
January 2014, VOLUME 133 / ISSUE 1
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.shtml

Monthly Feature
The Challenge of Reducing Neonatal Mortality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Peter A. Cooper, FC Paed (SA), PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Witwatersrand and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/1/4.extract

Introductory Commentary
Living beyond the first 28 days of life remains a major accomplishment, particularly in most of southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Cooper presents critical data bringing forward the facts that provide evidence that straightforward and simple medical interventions will help infants get off to a safe and healthy start. Unfortunately, the pace of improvement in the availability of these basic health care services is occurring extremely slowly. Countries that are chronically underresourced have multiple factors contributing to poor neonatal survival rates. Yet, greater progress in improving survival rates could occur with increased attention to providing basic perinatal care. The 2015 Millennium Development Goal for improved child survival will not be achieved in large part due to the inadequate focus given to this critical issue.
—Jay E. Berkelhamer, MD, FAAP