[Neonatology in the Maghreb region: cost]

The Maghreb region comprises Libya Tunisia Algeria Morocco and Mauritania. The populations of these countries are young and largely Arab Muslims of varying socioeconomic levels and educational and health statuses. To improve the state of health of the newborn infant in the Maghreb prenatal health care and the conditions of delivery must be improved. Thus the presence of primary health care centers throughout Algeria Libya and Tunisia as well as of primary level maternity wards gives pregnant women access to prenatal health care and assisted delivery. To optimize the quality of neonatal care requires an organization into 3 levels of care and the concurrent improvement of the quality of care at all levels. Services at the tertiary level will guarantee sophisticated intensive care and play an important role in the training of health personnel. Services at the secondary level must be improved or established in key sites to best provide quality long-term care. Many primary health care centers are needed in order to accommodate routine health needs and clinical follow-up for all healthy newborns. These facilities and personnel will together comprise an effective network ensuring the coordinated referral and transfer of patients and avoiding any overburdening of reference health facilities.