Organization of neonatal care services and its importance

Atasay B., Arsan S.

JOURNAL OF PERINATAL MEDICINE, vol.31, no.5, pp.392-394, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Doi Number: 10.1515/jpm.2003.060
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PERINATAL MEDICINE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.392-394
  • Keywords: perinatal health care, neonatal health care, developing countries, PERINATAL-MORTALITY
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Universally 4 million newborns die and another 4 million are stillborn every year. 98% of these neonatal deaths take place in the developing countries. Looking at the state of the worlds newborns one can see that neonatal mortality rate is about 45 per 1000 in the developed countries and nearly 10 fold this in the developing world. Causes that underlie these newborn deaths differ according to a countrys development rank. According to the WHO estimates for the year 2001, newborns die due to infections (32%), birth asphyxia and trauma (29%), prematurity (24%) and congenital anomalies (10%),mostly in the developing countries. When organizing neonatal care services in a country or a region, priorities should be decided by looking at neonatal and perinatal mortality rates and causes of neonatal and perinatal deaths. Causes of neonatal and perinatal deaths in the developing countries have been documented and reflect some common underlying problems in the health systems.