Care practices on the resuscitation of newborns in the context of a delivery center

Approximately 10 to 15% of the neonates present difficulties in adapting to extra uterine life, which requires ability and readiness from the professional to intervene properly. This is an observational, cross-sectional study aimed at describing the care practices on the resuscitation of the newborn in the Delivery Center of a public hospital in the city of S?o Paulo. Data were obtained from the observation of 100 assistances given by health care professional staff and were recorded on a check-list instrument. Meconium-amniotic fluid was found in 24 (24.0%) births and 47 (47.0%) newborns were submitted to respiratory airways aspiration. Of these, 6.4% (3) had their trachea aspirated. 26 (26.0%) newborns were ventilated, 5 (19.2%) of which by mask plus positive pressure; 1 (1.0%) newborn was submitted to a chest compression. After the initial resuscitation procedures, 6 (6.0%) newborns were referred to the neonatal intensive care unit.