SynthesisBMJ global health2021
Evidence-based interventions to reduce mortality among preterm and low-birthweight neonates in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMJ global health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Kangaroo Mother Care Is Beneficial for Both Infants and Parents: An Umbrella Review.Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) · 2026Pooled it
- Incidence of mortality and its predictors among low birth weight neonates in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2026Pooled it
- Neonatal Ventilation Training Using a Low-Cost, High-Fidelity Simulator in a Low-Resource Setting: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2026Trial
- The effect of a planned lactation education program on the mother's breastfeeding practice and weight gain in low birth weight infants: a randomized clinical trial study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2022Trial
- Health interventions and stakeholder roles in neonatal mortality reduction within low-income countries: A scoping review.Public health in practice (Oxford, England) · 2026Review
- Hospital Padrino Strategy associated with reductions in perinatal mortality in Colombia's Pacific region: addressing public health challenges.Pediatric research · 2026Article
- Benefits of neonatal resuscitation training in high- and low-resource settings.Seminars in fetal & neonatal medicine · 2026Review
- Risk factors for low birthweight among multinational mothers: results from the first population-based maternal and infant health monitoring system in the capital emirate of the United Arab Emirates.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- Article
- Unveiling socio-demographic determinants of low birth weight using machine learning techniques.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- A deep-learning approach to predict mortality in very-low-birth-weight infants treated in the intensive care units using DeepSurv.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Article
- Bridging the Survival Gap: Strengthening Post-Discharge Care for Preterm Infants in Tanzania.Annals of global health · 2026Article
- Survival Status and Predictors of Mortality Among Preterm Neonates Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Central Ethiopia: A Prospective Follow-Up Study.Public health challenges · 2025Article
- Nutritional and prenatal care factors associated with low birth weight among full-term infants in public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Article
- Assessing the Knowledge, Practices and the Associated Factors Among Postpartum Mothers Concerning Neonatal Umbilical Cord Care in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.Maternal and child health journal · 2025Article
- Article
- Understanding Anemia and Predictors of Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study in Southern Ethiopia.Maternal-fetal medicine (Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.) · 2025Article
- Machine learning prediction of preterm birth in women under 35 using routine biomarkers in a retrospective cohort study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Neonatal Mortality and Associated Factors at a Tertiary-Level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Retrospective Study.Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics · 2025Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPreterm birth is the leading cause of under-five-mortality worldwide, with the highest burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to synthesise evidence-based interventions for preterm and low birthweight (LBW) neonates in LMICs, their associated neonatal mortality rate (NMR), and barriers and facilitators to their implementation. This study updates all existing evidence on this topic and reviews evidence on interventions that have not been previously considered in current WHO recommendations.
methodsSix electronic databases were searched until 3 March 2020 for randomised controlled trials reporting NMR of preterm and/or LBW newborns following any intervention in LMICs. Risk ratios for mortality outcomes were pooled where appropriate using a random effects model (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019139267).
results1236 studies were identified, of which 49 were narratively synthesised and 9 contributed to the meta-analysis. The studies included 39 interventions in 21 countries with 46 993 participants. High-quality evidence suggested significant reduction of NMR following antenatal corticosteroids (Pakistan risk ratio (RR) 0.89; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.99|Guatemala 0.74; 0.68 to 0.81), single cord (0.65; 0.50 to 0.86) and skin cleansing with chlorhexidine (0.72; 0.55 to 0.95), early BCG vaccine (0.64; 0.48 to 0.86; I
conclusionThe findings of this study encourage the implementation of additional, evidence-based interventions in the current (WHO) guidelines and to be selective in usage of antenatal corticosteroids, to reduce mortality among preterm and LBW neonates in LMICs. Given the global commitment to end all preventable neonatal deaths by 2030, continuous evaluation and improvement of the current guidelines should be a priority on the agenda.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.