IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting health systems globally. Maternity care disruptions have been surveyed, but not those related to vulnerable small newborns. We aimed to survey reported disruptions to small and sick newborn care worldwide and undertake thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ experiences and proposed mitigation strategies.MethodsUsing a widely disseminated online survey in three languages, we reached out to neonatal healthcare providers. We collected data on COVID-19 preparedness, effects on health personnel and on newborn care services, including kangaroo mother care (KMC), as well as disruptors and solutions.ResultsWe analysed 1120 responses from 62 countries, mainly low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preparedness for COVID-19 was suboptimal in terms of guidelines and availability of personal protective equipment. One-third reported routine testing of all pregnant women, but 13% had no testing capacity at all. More than 85% of health personnel feared for their own health and 89% had increased stress. Newborn care practices were disrupted both due to reduced care-seeking and a compromised workforce. More than half reported that evidence-based interventions such as KMC were discontinued or discouraged. Separation of the mother–baby dyad was reported for both COVID-positive mothers (50%) and those with unknown status (16%). Follow-up care was disrupted primarily due to families’ fear of visiting hospitals (~73%).ConclusionNewborn care providers are stressed and there is lack clarity and guidelines regarding care of small newborns during the pandemic. There is an urgent need to protect life-saving interventions, such as KMC, threatened by the pandemic, and to be ready to recover and build back better.
In this study the incidence of hearing impairment is 3 per 279 in at risk infants screened and 7 per 1490 in not at risk infants screened. The weighted incidence in a standardized population of neonates seeking care at tertiary level center in India is 5.60 per 1000 as per this study. This high incidence calls for all pediatricians to consider incorporating a basic hearing screen for all the neonates using cost effective and appropriate technology. Initial screening may be performed using behavioral observation techniques and confirmation by otoacoustic emissions.
BackgroundIn India, although the proportion of institutional births is increasing, there are concerns regarding quality of care. We assessed the effectiveness of a nurse-led onsite mentoring program in improving quality of care of institutional births in 24/7 primary health centres (PHCs that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) of two high priority districts in Karnataka state, South India. Primary outcomes were improved facility readiness and provider preparedness in managing institutional births and associated complications during child birth.MethodsAll functional 24/7 PHCs in the two districts were included in the study. We used a parallel, cluster randomized trial design in which 54 of 108 facilities received six onsite mentoring visits, along with an initial training update and specially designed case sheets for providers; the control arm received just the initial training update and the case sheets. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered in April-2012 and August-2013 using facility audits, provider interviews and case sheet audits. The provider interviews were administered to all staff nurses available at the PHCs and audits were done of all the filled case sheets during the month prior to data collection. In addition, a cost analysis of the intervention was undertaken.ResultsBetween the surveys, we achieved coverage of 100% of facilities and 91.2% of staff nurse interviews. Since the case sheets were newly designed, case-sheet audit data were available only from the end line survey for about 80.2% of all women in the intervention facilities and 57.3% in the control facilities. A higher number of facilities in the intervention arm had all appropriate drugs, equipment and supplies to deal with gestational hypertension (19 vs.3, OR (odds ratio) 9.2, 95% C.I 2.5 to33.6), postpartum haemorrhage (29 vs. 12, OR 3.7, 95% C.I 1.6 to8.3); and obstructed labour (25 vs.9, OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.6 to8.3). The providers in the intervention arm had better knowledge of active management of the third stage of labour (82.4% vs.35.8%, AOR (adjusted odds ratio) 10, 95% C.I 5.5 to 18.2); management of maternal sepsis (73.5% vs. 10.9%, AOR 36.1, 95% C.I 13.6 to 95.9); neonatal resuscitation (48.5% vs.11.7%, AOR 10.7, 95% C.I 4.6 to 25.0) and low birth weight newborn care (58.1% vs. 40.9%, AOR 2.4, 95% C.I 1.2 to 4.7). The case sheet audits revealed that providers in the intervention arm showed greater compliance with the protocols during labour monitoring (77.3% vs. 32.1%, AOR 25.8, 95% C.I 9.6 to 69.4); delivery and immediate post-partum care for mothers (78.6% vs. 31.8%, AOR 22.1, 95% C.I 8.0 to 61.4) and for newborns (73.9% vs. 32.8%, AOR 24.1, 95% C.I 8.1 to 72.0). The cost analysis showed that the intervention cost an additional $5.60 overall per delivery.ConclusionsThe mentoring program successfully improved provider preparedness and facility readiness to deal with institutional births and associated complications. It is feasible to improve the quality of institutional births at a large operational scale, with...
IntroductionKangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is the practice of early, continuous and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby with exclusive breastfeeding. Despite clear evidence of impact in improving survival and health outcomes among low birth weight infants, KMC coverage has remained low and implementation has been limited. Consequently, only a small fraction of newborns that could benefit from KMC receive it.Methods and analysisThis implementation research project aims to develop and evaluate district-level models for scaling up KMC in India and Ethiopia that can achieve high population coverage. The project includes formative research to identify barriers and contextual factors that affect implementation and utilisation of KMC and design scalable models to deliver KMC across the facility-community continuum. This will be followed by implementation and evaluation of these models in routine care settings, in an iterative fashion, with the aim of reaching a successful model for wider district, state and national-level scale-up. Implementation actions would happen at three levels: ‘pre-KMC facility’—to maximise the number of newborns getting to a facility that provides KMC; ‘KMC facility’—for initiation and maintenance of KMC; and ‘post-KMC facility’—for continuation of KMC at home. Stable infants with birth weight<2000 g and born in the catchment population of the study KMC facilities would form the eligible population. The primary outcome will be coverage of KMC in the preceding 24 hours and will be measured at discharge from the KMC facility and 7 days after hospital discharge.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained in all the project sites, and centrally by the Research Ethics Review Committee at the WHO. Results of the project will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication, in addition to national and global level dissemination.Study statusWHO approved protocol: V.4—12 May 2016—Protocol ID: ERC 2716. Study implementation beginning: April 2017. Study end: expected March 2019.Trial registration numberCommunity Empowerment Laboratory, Uttar Pradesh, India (NCT12286667); St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India and Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, Bangalore, India (CTRI/2017/07/008988); Society for Applied Studies, Delhi (NCT03098069); Oromia, Ethiopia (NCT03419416); Amhara, SNNPR and Tigray, Ethiopia (NCT03506698).
Background: Low birth-weight (LBW) infants on respiratory support are often deprived of kangaroo mother care (KMC) due to fear of instability. Data on safety of KMC in these infants are lacking. Primary Objective: To determine the feasibility of KMC in LBW infants on continuous positive airway pressure or synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation. Secondary Objectives: To compare vital signs (heart rate [HR], respiration, temperature, and Spo 2) and ventilatory parameters (Fio 2, peak inspiratory pressure [PIP], and positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP]) before, during, and after KMC, and assess the mother's perception of the KMC intervention. Methods: LBW infants stable on respiratory support were given KMC for 1 hour. Vital signs and ventilator parameters were recorded before, every 15 minutes during and after KMC. Feasibility was defined as continuation of KMC for 1 hour without interruption, with stable vital signs (HR > 100/min, Spo 2 > 90%, and temperature 36.5°C-37.5°C) and ventilator parameters (no change in PIP, PEEP, or increase in Fio 2 not more than 0.1) without tube dislodgement. Results: Twenty LBW infants with a mean birth weight of 1390 ± 484 g were included. All infants completed 1-hour duration of KMC without interruption. No significant changes in temperature, respiratory rates, or saturations were noted. The HR and Fio 2 were marginally higher during KMC than before or after (HR before 147.3 ± 11.5, during 150.8 ± 11, and after 147.3 ± 11.1, P = .04; Fio 2 before 30.6 ± 8.1, during 31.8 ± 8.1, and after 30.7 ± 8.0, P = .034). No accidental extubation or dislodgement of lines occurred. Most mothers were happy. Implications for Practice: The vital signs were stable during KMC. KMC is feasible in infants receiving respiratory support. Implications for Research: Effectiveness of early initiation and prolonged duration of KMC.
Abdominal girth measurement as a marker for feed tolerance needs to be studied in infants less than 750 g and less than 26 weeks of gestation.
Quality of maternal and newborn care could be improved if health care providers' knowledge and competencies as well as system level constraints are addressed. However, due to several barriers staff nurses who form the frontline of health care workforce have limited access to enhancing their clinical knowledge and competencies. To address this gap, a new cadre of nurse mentors (NMs) for the public health system were trained by specialists from a teaching hospital in a special 5-week training course. This included 54 hours of theory and 110 hours of practical in clinical obstetric and newborn care, apart from mentoring, quality improvement and health systems issues. The nurse mentors were assigned to support staff nurses in the primary health care centres (PHCs) in eight northern Karnataka districts. Each NM covered 6-8 PHCs monthly for 2-3 days and thus a total of 385 PHCs were reached. They received support in the field through supportive supervision visits done by the specialists who had trained them, as well as by refresher training and clinical postings to the district hospitals. This paper presents impact of the training program on change in immediate and long term knowledge and competency scores of nurse mentors. Their baseline knowledge scores changed from 44.3 ± 12.7 to 72.1 ± 13.8 immediately after the training in obstetric and from 18.2 ± 19.1 to 66.4 ± 14.9 in newborn (p < 0.0001) content areas. Knowledge scores increased significantly for obstetric content (p < 0.05) after a period of 1 year but were sustained for newborn content (p > 0.05). Skills score soon after training increased from 62.2 ± 13.2 to 69.6 ± 12.5 in obstetric after a 1 year period and from 52.6 ± 9.3; 63.5 ± 14.4 in newborn (p M. Washington et al. 459 < 0.001) content areas respectively. These findings have implications for those interested in improving quality of maternal and child care through nurse-dependent health delivery systems.
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