Every year an estimated three million newborn babies die during the first week of life due to problems such as sepsis, tetanus, or asphyxia, or problems associated with trauma, low birth weight, or preterm birth. This guide is written for the doctors, nurses, senior midwives, and other health care workers at the first referral level in low resource settings who are responsible for the care of newborn babies with problems during the first week(s) of life.

The guide, based on the latest available evidence, provides up-to-date, authoritative clinical guidelines that are relevant to a facility with basic laboratory facilities, selected essential drugs and supplies, and the capability to provide safe blood transfusion. In some settings, the guide will be relevant to large health centres that provide childbirth care and have the capacity to care for sick or small newborn babies.