Reduction in neonatal mortality by simple interventions

Newborn infants are among those which generate the highest health care costs. For instance, the cost of hospital care until discharge was assessed at US $ 14,200 (Boyle et al., 1983) for babies weighing 1000–1499g at birth. The average hospital stay for a baby weighing less than 1500g at birth in 1981 was 100 days at an average daily cost of US$ 898 (Stahlman, 1984). Achievements in neonatal survival, especially of extremely low birth weight babies, have necessitated frequent revision of the definition of viability. However, modern neonatal intensive care cannot be regarded as appropriate for developing countries as it cannot be made accessible to all at an affordable cost.