title: [National reference unit of neonatology: state of play].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neonatal mortality rate in Mali is one of the highest in the world. Only one national reference neonatology unit is available in the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the time-course of morbidity, mortality, staff and accommodation facilities from 2008 to 2009 in Mali's unique national reference neonatology unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in the neonatology unit of Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako. Data concerning staff number of admissions, sex ratio, diseases, patients outcome, capacity and length-of-stay were compiled for the period from 1st January 2008 to 31 December 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medical staff increased from one to three in 2009 and the number of nurses and midwives decreased from 16 to 14 with an average number of beds of 44. The mean number of hospitalizations per year was 3,900 (range: 3667-4585) with 14% of in-born deliveries and a mean length-of-stay of 3.7 days. Prematurity birth asphyxia and infection represented 80.5% of reasons for admission and 79.5% of deaths. The mortality rate varied from 28.5% to 36.8% with an annual mean of 33.2%. The diseases associated with the highest mortality were tetanus (60.8%), prematurity (42.7%), birth asphyxia (29.4%) and infection (25.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neonatal mortality remains very high in Mali. Health authorities should take measures to decentralize the care of sick newborns in order to reduce neonatal mortality in Mali.
authors.forename: Fatoumata
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dicko-Traoré
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sylla
authors.forename: Youssouf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Aliou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Hawa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diall
authors.forename: Abdoul Aziz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Diakité
authors.forename: Djènèba
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konaté
authors.forename: Fatoumata Léonie
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Diakité
authors.forename: Balilé
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harber
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koné
authors.forename: Maméry
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidibé
authors.forename: Fousséni
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Belco
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maïga
authors.forename: Amadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Touré
authors.forename: Boubacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Togo
authors.forename: Toumani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sidibé
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D009359:Neonatology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013997:Time Factors