Maternity care options influence readmission of newborns.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse morbidity and mortality in healthy newborn infants in relation to various routines of post-natal follow-up.


METHODS
cross-sectional study.


METHODS
maternity care in Sweden.


METHODS
healthy infants born at term between 1999 and 2002 (n = 197,898).


METHODS
Assessment of post-natal follow-up routines after uncomplicated childbirth in 48 hospitals and data collected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, Hospital Discharge Register and Cause-of-Death Register.


METHODS
neonatal mortality and readmission as proxy for morbidity.


RESULTS
During the first 28 days, 2.1% of the infants were readmitted generally because of infections, jaundice and feeding-related problems. Infants born in hospitals with a routine neonatal examination before 48 h and a home care programme had a readmission rate [OR, 1.3 (95% CI, 1.16-1.48)] higher than infants born in hospitals with routine neonatal examination after 48 h and 24-h care. There were 26 neonatal deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-delivery care options and routines influence neonatal morbidity as measured by hospital readmission rate. A final infant examination at 49-72 h and an active follow-up programme may reduce the risk of readmission.
Ellberg
Lotta
L
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. lotta.ellberg@obgyn.umu.se
Högberg
Ulf
U
Lundman
Berit
B
Källén
Karin
K
Håkansson
Stellan
S
Lindh
Viveca
V
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology