Newborn Consultations at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Avignon Hospital Center (France)

Introduction: Consultations for newborns (0 to 28 days) are also on the rise in pediatric emergency departments. This increase in newborn consultations is partly explained by the closure of many maternity wards and the merging of smaller maternity units. The aim of this study is to identify the reasons and factors associated with newborn consultations in the pediatric emergency department. Method: This was a single-center study with a retrospective component (before the reduction of postpartum hospitalization duration) and a prospective component (during the reduction of postpartum hospitalization duration). Only children born at the maternity ward of Avignon Hospital and who attended neonatal consultations at the pediatric emergency department of Avignon were included. Results: From October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 (Group 1), out of a total of 21,611 visits, 372 newborns (1.72%) consulted the pediatric emergency department. Among them, 165, or 44%, were born at Avignon Hospital, representing a proportion of 0.76% of pediatric emergency consultations. Thus, young maternal age (p = 0.04) and primiparity (p = 0.011) appear to be factors associated with hospitalization. Conclusion: Early discharge from maternity is feasible with good perinatal organization, including early identification of at-risk situations and structured follow-up after leaving the maternity ward.