Challenges in Scaling up of Special Care Newborn Units- Lessons from India.
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Date
2011-12
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Abstract
Neonatal mortality rate in India is high and stagnant. Special Care Newborn Units (SCNUs) are being set up to provide
quality level II newborn care services in district hospitals of several districts to meet this challenge. The units are located in
some of the remotest districts where the burden of neonatal deaths and accessibility to special care is a concern. A
recently concluded evaluation of these units indicates that it is possible to provide quality level II newborn care in district
hospitals. However, there are critical constraints such as availability and skills of human resources, maintenance of
equipment and bed occupancy. It is not the SCNU alone but an active network of SCNU (level II care), neonatal
stabilization units (level I care) and newborn care corners can impact neonatal mortality rate reduction higher. Number of
beds is also not sufficient to cater to the increasing demand of such services. Available number of nurses is a problem in
many such units. An effective and sustainable system to maintain and repair the equipment is essential. Scaling up these
units would require squarely addressing these issues.
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Neogi Sutapa B, Malhotra Sumit, Zodpey Sanjay, Mohan Pavitra. Challenges in Scaling up of Special Care Newborn Units- Lessons from India. Indian Pediatrics. 2011 December; 48(12): 931-935.