State of Newborn Care in Armed Forces Hospitals

Abstract

Organized perinatal and newborn care in armed forces hospitals includes preconception and antenatal care, care during labor and childbirth, immediate newborn care, care of small and sick newborn including screening for hypoglycemia, care of healthy newborns in the first week including newborn screening for thyroid disorders, Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, universal hearing screening, and universal pulse oximetry. Neonatal mortality was 24.3% in less than 26 weeks (n = 37), 32.6% in neonates born between 26 weeks to 27+6 weeks (n = 95), 6.2% in neonates born between 28 weeks and 31+6 weeks (n = 242), 0.8% in 32 weeks to 36+6 weeks (n = 1890), and 0.1% in term neonates (n = 21,292). The comprehensive health care model in armed forces can be a model for other institutes and health systems for more effective neonatal health care.