Background: Neonatal mortality accounts for 40% of under-five child mortality, globally. Objective: to determine the neonatal mortality rate (NMR), risk factors and causes of it. Methods: A community- based study was conducted in a rural area, El- Minia governorate. Only mothers who had got birth in the year 2008 were included. A questionnaire had been designed inquiring about possible risk factors of neonatal
death and medical care received by infants and their mothers. The Statistical Program SPSS for windows version 11 had been used in analysis Results: Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) was 24/1000 live births. Maternal demographic characteristics were associated significantly with neonatal mortality as 27.1%, 83.3%, and 79.2% of neonatal deaths occurred with maternal age < 20 years, maternal illiteracy, and no
breast feeding respectively. Main causes of death were low birth weight (29.2%), prematurity (20.8%), and infection (20.8%).Conclusions: Satisfactory medical care of mothers and infants should be done