What does this research mean for the field?

Neonatal and under-five mortality rates in Pakistan remain high, particularly in rural areas, with preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, and infectious diseases being the leading causes of death. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine national cause-specific neonatal and under-five mortality estimates and assess urban-rural disparities using verbal and social autopsy methods.

September 14, 2026Journal of Global HealthOpen Access

Rates and causes of neonatal and under-five mortality: insights from a national household survey in Pakistan

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To determine national cause-specific neonatal and under-five mortality estimates and assess urban-rural disparities using verbal and social autopsy methods.
Conducted a nationwide household survey covering 115,600 households across urban and rural areas using the National Nutrition Survey sampling frame.
Identified 3,880 neonatal and post-neonatal under-five deaths occurring within the three years prior to the survey and administered verbal and social autopsy (VASA) interviews.
Assigned causes of death using InterVA-5, InSilicoVA, Expert Algorithm VA methods, and expert physician-certified VASA review by paediatric and obstetric physicians.
Neonatal mortality was estimated at 39.8 per 1,000 live births (95% CI = 39.3–40.3), with higher rates observed in rural (40.8; 95% CI = 40.2–41.4) compared to urban areas (37.3; 95% CI = 36.5–38.1).
Post-neonatal under-five mortality was 35.9 per 1,000 live births (95% CI = 35.4–36.4), remaining higher in rural (36.8; 95% CI = 36.2–37.4) than in urban settings (33.6; 95% CI = 32.6–34.5).
Major causes of neonatal death included preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, and infectious diseases, while leading causes of post-neonatal deaths were infectious diseases, diarrheal disorders, and pneumonia.

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Implication

Cross-sectional survey reveals elevated child mortality and rural disparities in Pakistan, highlighting the need for targeted healthcare interventions.

Cite This Study

Malik et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b2c70926e14a848b14ec https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.16.04211

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Implication

Cross-sectional survey reveals elevated child mortality and rural disparities in Pakistan, highlighting the need for targeted healthcare interventions.

Rates and causes of neonatal and under-five mortality: insights from a national household survey in Pakistan

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Rates and causes of neonatal and under-five mortality: insights from a national household survey in Pakistan

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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