Maternity care options influence readmission of newborns

Acta Paediatr. 2008 May;97(5):579-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00714.x.

Abstract

Aim: To analyse morbidity and mortality in healthy newborn infants in relation to various routines of post-natal follow-up.

Design: cross-sectional study.

Setting: maternity care in Sweden.

Population: 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.

Main outcome measure: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apgar Score
  • Birth Weight
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / diagnosis
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / epidemiology
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / mortality*
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Maternal Age
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Postnatal Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Registries
  • Sweden / epidemiology