The baseline study was conducted in 14 Northern mountainous and Central highland provinces. The study subjects were all newborns who died within 28 days after delivery in the period from January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2008. Data were also collected from relatives the above newborns, health workers, and local governments. Key findings are as follows: A total of 1139 newborns died in 2007-2008 at the 14 provinces. Newborn mortality rate (NMR) of the 14 provinces was 7.3 per 1000 livebirths
this rate in the Northwest was 11, higher than that in the Northeast region (9.5) and Central Highlands (4.4). The main causes of newborn mortality were pre-term birth/low birth weight, accounted for 48.6 percent
followed by infection (14.8 percent), asphyxia (13.4 percent), and congenital malformation (10.1 percent). The Northwest region has NMR from infection (29.1 percent), asphyxia (20.1 percent) higher than that of the Northeast and Central Highlands. NMR in newborns of the mother experiencing or = 3 times of delivery was higher than that of those experiencing 1-2 times. No pregnancy check-up also made NMR increased. NMR of the newborns delivered at home was 2 times higher than that of those delivered at communal health centers and public hospitals.