TRENDS AND VARIATIONS IN NEONATAL LENGTH OF IN-HOSPITAL STAY IN CANADA

Purpose: To analyze spatio-temporal variations of neonatal length of i n-hospital stay in Canada. Method: The length of in-hospital stay of 1 ,469,761 newborns in Canadian hospitals from April 1, 1984 to March 31 , 1995 recorded by the Canadian Institute for Health Information was a nalyzed. Results: Neonatal length of in-hospital stay decreased from a n average of 5.0 days in 1984 to 2.9 days in 1994. in 1994, the averag e neonatal length of in-hospital stay in Alberta 2.5 days, which was 0 .2 to 1.5 days shorter; than other provinces. The spatio-temporal vari ations In neonatal length of in-hospital stay not be explained by corr esponding variations in birthweight and other neonatal disorders. Conc lusions: Neonatal length of in-hospital stay has been substantially re duced in Canada in recent years but there remain important interprovin cial variations. These variations are unlikely to be the results of ch anges or differences in patient-specific factors; policy played an imp ortant role.