Division of neonatal care in India into three categories of inpatient care and one level of routine care associated with four facility levels36–39 (details in online supplementary appendix table A2)
Category of care | Facility level and package of care |
Newborn care corner |
Primary health centres and hospitals:
All newborns Neonatal resuscitation and routine care at birth Identification and referral of at-risk or sick newborns Care provided by an auxiliary nurse midwife |
Inpatient care | |
Neonatal stabilisation unit |
Level 1 (community health centre):
Management of uncomplicated small neonates (>1800 g/>34 weeks’ gestation) Management of jaundice (phototherapy) and sepsis Care provided by a minimum of nurses (≥1) and medical officers (MOs) or paediatricians (≥1) |
Special care newborn unit |
Level 2 (district hospital):
Management of small neonates (1200–1800 g/30–34 weeks’ gestation) Management of sick neonates ≥1800 g with birth asphyxia, meconium aspiration, jaundice (exchange transfusion), sepsis or requiring gavage feeding Care provided by a minimum of nurses (1 nurse:1.2 neonates), MOs (1 MO:4 neonates) and paediatricians (≥1) |
Neonatal intensive care unit |
Level 3 (tertiary hospital):
Management of small neonates (<1200 g/<30 weeks’ gestation) Mechanical ventilation and surgery Care provided by a minimum of nurses (1 nurse:1 neonate) and neonatologists |