Table 4

Observed consequences of poor registration systems on neonatal health.

International and national levels
• The magnitude of neonatal mortality in the country is underestimated, and the flow of resources from major stake-holders is misguided
• The monitoring of indicators for the Millennium Development Goals will be arbitrary without valid information.
• Targeting of interventions to those most in need will be impossible.

Regional and local levels
• Awareness of neonatal mortality as a major health problem will be low, and interventions proved to reduce neonatal mortality will not be implemented.
• If any, measures taken to improve reproductive health will be inadequate since the interventions needed differ substantially between high and low mortality settings.
• At a local level, the perinatal period will not be perceived as a period of increased risk for mother and child, resulting in poor preparations and precautions for pregnancy and delivery.

Målqvist et al. BMC International Health and Human Rights 2008 8:4   doi:10.1186/1472-698X-8-4