Neonatal care in developing countries

Worldwide, about eight newborn babies die every minute, yet interventions to reduce early neonatal mortality and morbidity are still not given high priority in most developing countries. It is often assumed that neonatal care is too costly for high coverage in poor populations, but in fact many deaths could be prevented or treated with low technology and improved care. There are four principles of basic newborn care: an atraumatic and clean delivery, maintenance of body temperature, initiation of spontaneous respiration and breast feeding shortly after birth. For the majority these could be facilitated at the health centre by nurse midwives or at home by TBAs or family members. Low cost special care for many of the 10%-15% who are sick or pre-term or low birth weight could be provided at district hospitals using appropriate simple technologies.