Pediatric management in public maternity hospitals. National survey for the year 1983
Lejeune, C.; Caillois, D.; Rémy, M.; Tubiana, P.; Van-Hove, D.
Archives Francaises de Pediatrie 43(8): 649-653
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9764 PMID: 3813790 Document Number: 278864
The authors report the results of a French national survey concerning the means of pediatric management of neonates in public maternity hospitals, during the year 1983. Answer rate was 56% from the 508 maternity hospitals surveyed and 87% in the Ile-de-France area. An important deficiency in human and technical resources is apparent from the results : there was no nursery nurse in more than two thirds of the maternity hospitals responding; 86% were below the desirable standards for pediatrician attendance (one weekly attendance per 100 labours per year) and 51% had less than half this personnel; 20% had no pediatric on-call system; there was a clear-cut deficiency for care and supervision equipment and for emergency laboratory tests necessary for the preparation before transfer of neonates with severe distress. A major reorganization of this system is necessary in order to improve perinatal mortality and morbidity.