Analysis of Early Essential Newborn Care Capacities of Rural Health Facilities — Four Provinces in Western China, 2016

What is already known about this topic? The Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) intervention package recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) is shown to prevent and treat the leading causes of newborn illness and death. China has begun widespread implementation of the EENC. What is added by this report? Among the 14 core interventions, including using antibiotics for mothers with premature rupture of membranes, immediate skin-to-skin contact of mother and baby, delayed umbilical cord clamping, kangaroo mother care for preterm newborn, and neonatal sepsis and pneumonia management, were not sufficiently implemented in health facilities in western China. What are the implications for public health practice? There are gaps between the implementation situation and WHO recommendations in terms of EENC capacities in western China. Targeted interventions developed accordingly can ensure quality child health care and decrease newborn mortality in China.