Objectives: The incidence of perinatal, especially early neonatal mortality, has not been reducing in the western region of Mongolia, therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify causes and risk factors for early neonatal mortality in the western region of Mongolia. Methods: A case-control study for neonatal mortality was conducted in 5 hospitals in western Mongolia in 2014. Cases and controls were chosen from the hospitals. Associated causes and risk factors for early neonatal mortality were identified with subgroup binary logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 7749 live births occurred during the study period. The early neonatal mortality rate was 11.3 per 1000 births. Obstetric complications, obstetric chronic history, abruption of placenta, preeclampsia and maternal diseases influenced early neonatal mortality. Respiratory distress syndrome (OR=29.4; 95% CI, 12.78-67.65, p<0.05), perinatal asphyxia (OR=5.2; 95% CI, 2.81-9.63, p≤0.001), congenital malformation (OR=39.2; 95% CI, 5.11-302.1) and perinatal infections (OR =11.1; 95% CI, 3.64-34.28, p≤0.001) were the leading causes of newborn death in the first week. Conclusion: Overall, high rates of neonatal death demonstrate the need to improve the quality of health care and the control of delivery and factors influencing early neonatal mortality should be studied further at the national level.

Background: Mining is a major source of income, economic benefits, and job creation; however, it remains one of the most hazardous occupations in terms of health. Physically demanding, labor-intensive, hot, humid, noisy, and dusty work environments have a negative impact on the physical and psychological health of mine workers. Several factors, including age, gender, years of service, workload, stress, and fatigue, can affect sleep quality. Lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration, reduced alertness, impaired decision-making, and an increased risk of workplace injuries. While many studies have explored sleep quality and its risk factors in the general population, few have focused specifically on miners. This gap is the primary motivation for conducting the present study. Aim: To examine the risk factors affecting the sleep quality of dayshift workers at Baganuur Joint Stock Company. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 129 day-shift workers from Baganuur Joint Stock Company and was conducted between October and November 2023. Sleep quality was assessed using the 19-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Among the study participants, 86% (n = 111) were male. A total of 58.9% had been employed for less than 10 years, and 86% were always on call during non-working hours. Overall, 51.2% of the participants had poor sleep quality. Female gender (55.0%, p = 0.032) and being always on call during non-working hours (93.9%, p = 0.008) were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Logistic regression analysis revealed that being female increased the risk of poor sleep quality (OR = 0.315, 95% CI = 0.105–0.944, p = 0.039). Conclusions 1. The majority of participants (51.2%) reported poor sleep quality, 2. Gender and being on call during non-working hours were significantly associated with reduced sleep quality among day-shift miners.

Objectives: To measure personal exposure to air pollution in children, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Methods: Since coal burning for domestic heating causes severe air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, we measured personal PM2.5 exposure for children aged 5-12 years during the winter 2013-2014. Results: Peak levels of black carbon PM2.5 exposure >200 µg/m3 between November and March varied significantly with time of day, with the highest peak 18:00-02:00, a nadir 02:00-07:00, followed by a second peak 07:00 -12:00, with another afternoon nadir 12:00-18:00. Children living in Ger districts in a Ger or wooden house, had the highest levels of PM2.5, >500 µg/m3 , with duration of personal peak exposure in Gers 8-fold longer than in wooden houses. Conclusion: Peak exposures in Gers were related to going outside, fire lighting and cooking, whereas in wooden houses peak exposures were related to going outside or opening the door. The least exposure for children was in an apartment or school with the windows shut. Significant levels of personal exposure also occurred during the commute to school, outside playtime, shopping trips and car rides. Opening the window of steam heated apartments for “fresh air cooling” as well as indoor smoking also produced important levels of personal exposure.