The increasing neonatal mortality in Lesotho : An explorative case study

Abstract: Child mortality rates do not only reflect the development in a society but also reflect access to basic health interventions and socio-economic conditions. The uneven distribution of child mortality rates is a matter of inequity. Even though there has been a reduction in the child mortality indicator neonatal mortality rate on the global level, the rate is still unacceptably high. Data indicates that it in a few countries, such as Lesotho, the neonatal mortality has an arrested decrease even though being a focus area within the sustainable development goals. This explorative case study aims at finding and explaining the factors behind the arrested decrease in neonatal mortality in Lesotho. Framing this study are the social determinants of health. The results indicate that the combination of HIV and droughts with exacerbated poverty and increased requirements for adequate care as a result, in combination with the vulnerable situation of women has aggravated the situation for new-borns in Lesotho. In order to improve the survival of new-borns in Lesotho measures cannot solely be aimed at improving health care but also have to be directed beyond the direct cause of death such as measures to improve the factors causing poor health. In order to achieve better prerequisites for new-borns measures have to overcome health inequity. It is a fundamental human rights concern.