“Special Newborn Care Unit” Quality Care Assessment Using SNCU Quality of Care Indices (SQCIs) at Aspirational Districts, Odisha, 2020-2022

Introduction: Special newborn care unit (SNCU) Quality of Care Indices (SQCIs) are specific indicators that help in assessing and evaluating the quality of care provided to newborns in SNCUs. Aims and Objectives: The study described the quality of care at SNCUs in aspirational districts of Odisha by using 7 quality of care indices, 2020-2022. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study on all newborns who received care at SNCUs of 10 aspirational districts in Odisha using the data from the SNCU online database for 2020-2022. Every quarter of the year, all the parameters were extracted and entered into an already designed spreadsheet. The 7 indices generated the SQCI score. We used MS Excel (2021) for data analysis. Results: A total of 50,226 admissions were registered. Perinatal asphyxia caused the significant morbidity (14,421, 29%). Throughout the 12 quarters, composite SQCI showed satisfactory performance (0.59-0.66). Rational admission of all units was good, and their scores were 0.71 to 0.87. Mortality in normal weight babies showed good performance. The Low Birth Weight Admission Index score ranged from 0.22 to 0.30, that is, unsatisfactory performance. During 2020 to 2022, the overall composite SQCI score of the 10 SNCUs corresponded to satisfactory care (0.56-0.68). Conclusion: SQCI is an essential tool for assessing the SNCU quality evaluation. It should be regularly used at the district level to enhance quality care. Health facilities’ preparedness for managing perinatal asphyxia is to be studied.