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Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 27, No. 2, 124-127 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/14034948990270021201

Variation in referring newborns to special care in Finland

Elina Hemminki

Health Services Research Unit, elina.hemminki@stakes

Mika Gissler

Statistics and Registers Unit, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Helsinki

Hanna Saarikoski

University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health, Helsinki, Finland

We studied the frequency of referring newborns to special care in Finland and its variation between hospitals. Data was obtained from the nationwide Finnish Birth Register for 1991 and 1994. Newborns who during their first week of life had been in special care, in another hospital, in a respirator, or who had received a blood exchange were defined as having been in special care. This applied to 7% of newborns in 1991 and to 8% in 1994. The proportions of newborns in special care varied notably between hospitals of the same level. The differences could be explained by varying patient mixtures and different thresholds for referral to care. The indications for referring newborns into special care, especially in hospitals with high rates of referral, requires scrutiny.

Key Words: birth register • newborn • special care • variation.


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