Table 1 World Health Organization definition of levels of newborn care and interventions [4]

Level 1: Essential newborn care

Services include immediate care at birth; thorough drying, skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping; resuscitation when needed; early initiation and support for exclusive breastfeeding; routine care (Vitamin K, eye care, vaccinations, weighing, clinical examinations); prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; assessment, management and referral of bacterial infections, jaundice and diarrhoea, feeding problems, birth defects and other problems; pre-discharge advice on mother and baby care and follow-up

Level 2: Special inpatient newborn care

Services include: thermal care; comfort and pain management; kangaroo mother care (< 2500 g irrespective of stability); assisted feeding; safe administration of oxygen; prevention of apnoea; detection and management of neonatal infection, hypoglycaemia, jaundice, anaemia and neonatal encephalopathy; seizure management; safe administration of intravenous fluids; detection and referral management of birth defects.;

 + Transition to intensive care

Continuous positive airway pressure; exchange transfusion; detection and management of necrotizing enterocolitis; specialized follow-up of infants at high risk (including preterm infants)

Level 3: Intensive critical newborn care

Services include: advanced feeding support; mechanical/assisted ventilation, including intubation; screening and treatment for retinopathy of prematurity; surfactant treatment; investigation and management of birth defects; paediatric surgery; genetic services