Managing Neonatal Jaundice at the General Practice and Primary Health Care Level: An Overview

Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ) is one of the commonest causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the developing world. The physiological form of NNJ occurs in about two thirds of newborns. In addition to this however; are the various pathological forms which apart from being potentially fatal if not well managed; are often very difficult to differentiate from the benign physiological form; except with detailed laboratory investigations. Although the pathological forms of NNJ are ordinarily beyond the facilities usually available to General Practitioners (GPs) in developing countries; it is important that these GPs and the health workers at the primary health care level be well informed about NNJ since they are usually the first set of practitioners to receive babies with this illness. For better case management and reduction of mortality in NNJ; GPs should be able to sort babies with NNJ and manage them according to the severity of the illness. Mothers should be educated against harmful traditional practices which may provoke severe NNJ like the home use of naphthalene-containing balls. Home treatment of NNJ with the various local remedies should also be discouraged since these may not be helpful and may inadvertently cause them to seek medical advice late; with the attendant grave consequences

Política del Ministerio de Salud Pública en la prevención de las enfermedades no transmisibles / Policy of the Ministry of non-communicable diseases

La morbilidad y la mortalidad por enfermedades no transmisibles constituyen en Cuba uno de los principales problemas de salud, por ello el Ministerio de Salud Pública se ha trazado una política basada en la promoción de salud y prevención de estas enfermedades con un enfoque multisectorial. Se destaca el papel de la epidemiología como guia para la formulación de esta política, así como la importancia de la capacidad en esta rama de todo el personal de salud, y la realización de investigaciones de interés comunitario en todos los niveles de atención. Se exponen los cambios organizativos realizados para enfrentar este reto y el papel del médico de la familia, como elemento fundamental pera lograr los cambios que se precisan en el perfil de salud