[Neonatal and pediatirc intensive care in developing countries. Myth or reality? Luxury or necessity? From theory to practice].
Neonatal and pediatric intensive care poses a major challenge in developing countries where the socio-economic level is low and health care resources are limited. Given the large size of the pediatric population as well as of great socio-cultural and symbolic importance of the child, there is a natural, compelling need for management of serious diseases in newborns and infants. The lack of timely disease prevention and treatment accounts in part for the frequency and severity of cases. Thus the status of intensive care units can exist in this setting is a pertinent question. The purpose of this study was to attempt to answer this question by surveying neonatal and pediatric care in developing countries based on experience in Morocco over the last 25 years.
Alaoui
I
I
Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, Hôpital d'Enfants, Centre Hospitalo-universitaire Ibnou Sina, Rabat, Maroc. idalaoui@menara.ma
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003906:Developing Countries; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D009018:Morocco; D012923:Social Class; D012924:Social Conditions