Spatiotemporal dynamics, factors associated with neonatal mortality and health interventions in Mali: a modeling study

The study analyzed neonatal mortality in Mali from 2012 to 2023 using data from demographic and health surveys. National neonatal mortality declined from 34 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2012 to 29 in 2023. The research identified significant spatial clusters of high mortality in the regions of Sikasso, Mopti, Segou, and Tombouctou. Factors associated with lower mortality included birth intervals of at least 2 years, postnatal care, and improved sanitation. Male neonates had higher risk of death compared to females. Modeling showed that scaling up three interventions—thermal care, neonatal resuscitation, and clean cord care—could avert more than half of preventable neonatal deaths by 2035 in Mali.