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.

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.