At-Risk Newborns: Overlooked in Expansion From Essential Newborn Care to Small and Sick Newborn Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Key Messages

In global health, the initial focus on essential newborn care for all now includes adding specialized care for small and sick newborns.
In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this has resulted in transferring relatively stable newborns with risk factors who require observation and minimal support to special/intensive care units that are already overcrowded and understaffed.
To prevent needless separation from mothers and overcrowding in neonatal units, we propose an “at-risk” category of newborns and suggest feasible, more cost-effective options to manage these newborns at health care facilities in LMICs.

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