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Newborn care behaviours and neonatal survival: evidence from sub‐ S aharan A frica
Author(s) -
Penfold Suzanne,
Willey Barbara A.,
Schellenberg Joanna
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12193
Subject(s) - medicine , breastfeeding , neonatal resuscitation , population , psychological intervention , pediatrics , infant mortality , resuscitation , obstetrics , environmental health , emergency medicine , nursing
Objective To review evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa for the association between the practice or promotion of essential newborn care behaviours and neonatal survival. Methods We searched MEDLINE for English language, peer‐reviewed literature published since 2005. The study population was neonates residing in a sub‐ S aharan A frica country who were not HIV positive. Outcomes were all‐cause neonatal or early neonatal mortality or one of the three main causes of neonatal mortality: complications of preterm birth, infections and intrapartum‐related neonatal events. Interventions included were the practice or promotion of recommended newborn care behaviours including warmth, hygiene, breastfeeding, resuscitation and management of illness. We included study designs with a concurrent comparison group. Study quality was assessed using the C ochrane EPOC or N ewcastle– O ttawa tools and summarised using GRADE . Results Eleven papers met the search criteria and most were at low risk of bias. We found evidence that delivering on a clean surface, newborn resuscitation, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for low‐birthweight babies, and distribution of clean delivery kits were associated with reduced risks of neonatal mortality or the main causes of neonatal mortality. There was evidence that training community birth attendants in resuscitation and administering antibiotics, and establishing women's groups can improve neonatal survival. Conclusion There is a remarkable lack of robust evidence from sub‐ S aharan A frica on the association between practice or promotion of newborn care behaviours and newborn survival.