Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39581184›Full record

SynthesisNeonatology2025

Effectiveness of Neonatal Resuscitation Training Programs, Implementation, and Scale-Up in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Davneet Sihota, Rachel Lee Him, Georgia Dominguez, Leila Harrison, Tyler Vaivada, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neonatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Davneet SihotaCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rachel Lee HimCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Georgia DominguezCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Leila HarrisonCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tyler VaivadaCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Zulfiqar Ahmed BhuttaCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTo describe recent evidence regarding the most effective neonatal resuscitation training program and scale-up of these programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which has contributed to the upcoming Lancet Global Newborn Care Series 2025, and forms part of a supplement describing an extensive synthesis on effective newborn interventions in LMICs.

methodsWe included relevant studies from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL and Global Index Medicus databases on the effectiveness and scale-up of Neonatal Resuscitation Training Programs (NRTP), with searches run August 2022. Data extraction and quality assessments were completed independently and in duplicate.

resultsA total of 93 unique records met the eligibility criteria and were included in our analyses across the reviews. NRTPs improved most knowledge and skill-based outcomes but impact on mortality varied. Included studies identified knowledge and skill retention, standardized training protocols, and limited training opportunities for health care providers as challenges to current NRTPs.

conclusionReported knowledge, skills, and mortality outcomes were similar across NRTPs. The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program was found to be cost-effective in Tanzania, suggesting that the HBB program or elements thereof are low-cost and scalable in LMICs. Future research across diverse settings should evaluate the cost-effectiveness of other NRTPs. To scale-up current NRTPs, programs should focus on improving long-term retention outcomes and improving training material accessibility.

introductionTo describe recent evidence regarding the most effective neonatal resuscitation training program and scale-up of these programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which has contributed to the upcoming Lancet Global Newborn Care Series 2025, and forms part of a supplement describing an extensive synthesis on effective newborn interventions in LMICs.

methodsWe included relevant studies from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL and Global Index Medicus databases on the effectiveness and scale-up of Neonatal Resuscitation Training Programs (NRTP), with searches run August 2022. Data extraction and quality assessments were completed independently and in duplicate.

resultsA total of 93 unique records met the eligibility criteria and were included in our analyses across the reviews. NRTPs improved most knowledge and skill-based outcomes but impact on mortality varied. Included studies identified knowledge and skill retention, standardized training protocols, and limited training opportunities for health care providers as challenges to current NRTPs.

conclusionReported knowledge, skills, and mortality outcomes were similar across NRTPs. The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program was found to be cost-effective in Tanzania, suggesting that the HBB program or elements thereof are low-cost and scalable in LMICs. Future research across diverse settings should evaluate the cost-effectiveness of other NRTPs. To scale-up current NRTPs, programs should focus on improving long-term retention outcomes and improving training material accessibility.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesHealth PersonnelResuscitationClinical CompetenceHumansInfant, NewbornProgram EvaluationHelping babies breatheLow- and middle-income countryNeonatal resuscitationNeonatal resuscitation programNeonatal resuscitation training program

Identifiers

PMID39581184
PMCPMC11875418

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.