Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is calculated either by using official health statistics or by conducting household surveys. If health statistics are not available or are of questionable reliability, use the following guidance to measure NMR based on household surveys:
1) Design a representative sample of households which represent the population for which you want to assess NMR.
2) Conduct individual interviews with the target households’ female representatives, asking:
Q1: How many girls have you given birth to?
A1: [enter the number]
Q2: How many boys have you given birth to?
A2: [enter the number]
Q3: Have you ever given birth to a boy or girl who was born alive but later died?
A3: yes / no
If the answer is NO, probe:
Q4: Have you delivered a baby who cried or showed signs of life but did not survive?
A4: yes / no
(ask the following questions only if one of the previous two answers is YES)
Q5: How many of the girls you delivered died?
A5: [enter number]
Q6: How old was the girl(s) who died?
A6:
1) 1st girl who died: ……. days ……. months ……. years
2) 2nd girl who died: ……. days……. months……. years (cross out this answer if only one girl died)
Q7: How many of the boys you delivered died?
A7: [enter number]
Q8: How old was the boy(s) who died?
A8:
1) 1st boy who died: ……. days ……. months ……. years
2) 2nd boy who died: ……. days ……. months ……. years (cross out this answer if only one boy died)
3) Calculate the total number of children born. Calculate the total number of children who died within the first 28 days of life (i.e. the neonatal deaths).
4) To calculate the indicator’s value, multiply the number of children who died within the first 28 days by 1,000 and divide the result by the total number of children born.