METHODS: This is a prospective descriptive observational study conducted in the delivery room and adjacent neonatal area. Research assistants were trained to observe and record events related to labor, neonatal resuscitation, and 24-hour postnatal course. BA was defined as failure to initiate spontaneous respirations and/or 5-minute Apgar score ,7, prematurity as gestational age ,36 weeks, and low birth weight (LBW) as birth weight ,3rd centile for gestational age. Data were analyzed with x 2 and Student’s t tests.