[A composite indicator for maternity hospital classification]

to propose a composite indicator for maternity hospital classification.

descriptive analysis of maternity hospitals through a composite indicator and analysis of its association with infant readmissions within 30 days from the childbirth.

56 maternity units in Sicily, accounting for 44.436 newborns in 2014.

infant readmission rates within 30 days from the childbirth.

low-level hospitals show higher infant readmission rates (odds ratio: 1.3) which may be seen as a signal of inappropriateness of maternity care.

the proposed indicator allows for a classification of maternity hospitals taking into account for different dimensions of the quality of care; it allows the identification of critical signals related to the considered dimensions.