Neonatal Resuscitation in Zambia

Birth asphyxia (defined as "failure to initiate and sustain breathing at birth") has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most frequent cause of early deaths worldwide, accounting for about 20% of neonatal mortality. Although prompt resuscitation after birth can prevent many of the deaths and reduce disabilities in survivors from birth asphyxia, the WHO has concluded that resuscitation is often not initiated or the methods used are inadequate or wrong. The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) has been universally accepted in the developed world but has had limited dissemination in many developing countries, including Zambia. The primary hypothesis of this study is that implementation of the combined Neonatal Resuscitation Program/WHO Essential Newborn Care (ENC) Program, compared to basic neonatal care education of health care providers (ENC only) will result in reduced neonatal 7-day mortality. This trial will be performed in two Zambian cities: Lusaka and Ndola. Training in data collection will be conducted in order to establish baseline data on mortality and asphyxia. Following this time period, all centers will receive the ENC training and continue to collect data for 7 months. The clinics will then receive NRP Training and collect data for a 12-month period.

The primary outcome will be a decrease in neonatal 7-day mortality following the NRP training when compared to the ENC-only time period. Secondary outcomes will include neonatal mortality due to perinatal asphyxia, mortality or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) at 7 days, need for advanced resuscitation, Apgar scores at 5 minutes, sustainability of the program, as well as providers' self efficacy, competence, and performance in neonatal resuscitation.