Latvian Neonatal Society is a nongovernmental organization with 84 members neonatologists. The goal of our society is to support postgraduate professional education, increase quality of neonatal care in Latvia and represent interests of neonatologists in legal authorities. Main activities of the organization include organization of conferences, development of clinical guidelines, certification of neonatologists, collaboration with state institutions.
Main demographic data of Latvia In 2008 the number of population in Latvia was 2.27 millions. In 2008 birth rate was the highest within the last 10 years (chart 1) -10.6 per 1000 inhabitants. However it is still one of the lowest in the EU.


Proportion of premature birth is gradually decreasing; it was 4.8 % in 2008.
Proportion of caesarean sections is 22.7 %.
Proportion of pregnancies with no antenatal care is almost unchanged during last years 2.3% in 2008.
Proportion of out-of-hospital deliveries has increased to 0.9 % due to increased number of planned home deliveries.
The rates of perinatal mortality are variable and there is no definite tendency to decrease (chart 2). While in 2008 the number of early neonatal mortality has decreased (for 26 newborns), the number of stillbirths has increased (for 29). These dates are strongly variables between several Latvia's regions.



Neonatal/perinatal epidemiology
In Latvia state guarantee free of charge antenatal and delivery care.
Hospitals and equipment
Until 2008 there were 30 delivery departments in Latvia, presently due to centralization of hospitals number is decreasing; there are planned 18 delivery hospitals in the nearest future. In Latvia there are four 2nd level and one 3rd level centres of perinatal care. In the University Children Hospital newborns receive surgical and specialized (f.e, ophthalmological) treatment and long-term inpatient care. All the delivery places have equipment of neonatal resuscitation; but other equipment of neonatal medical care strongly differs from place to place. In NICU more often we use nCPAP, in two hospitals HFOV is available and one aEEG device.
Drugs in Perinatology

Delivery care Neonatal care