ABSTRACT
The newborn care facilities, policies, and patient load in the perinatal care centers [PNCC[s]] in Saudi Arabia were assessed in 1985 as a first step toward poring data that would be needed in formulating plans for the optimal regionalization of perinatal care. A total of 110 PNCC[s] based in 52 towns villages were surveyed using on-site evaluation. The Ministry of health, with 60 [55%] of the 110 PNCC[s], is the major health care provider, while 33 [30%] belong to private organizations. The Armed Forces, universities, and other government agencies account for 17 [15%]. There was an annual total of 212, 048 births in the PNCC. Except for variability in the distribution of Level III centers, there was good correlation between the number of live birth per year and the number of PNCC[s] in the different parts of the Kingdom. Few of the Level III centers provide outreaching educational programs or assist in neonatal transportation. A shortage of medical and nursing staff for neonatal care was found. The importance of the data for regionalization of prenatal care in the Kingdom is highlighted