Care of the newborn in developing countries.

The newborn period is the most challenging period of human life and it is the period most susceptible to morbidity and mortality. Neonatal morbidity and mortality contribute significantly to infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate globally; which are important indices for determining the level of development of any country. In most African countries and other developing parts of the world, there are inadequate resources and these reflect on the care given to their newborns. Therefore, there is need to understand the peculiarities, challenges and common problems newborns face in these countries with the aim of providing optimal care for the newborns: the goal of this review.