Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40561081›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2025

Small and sick newborn care: Changes in service readiness scoring between baseline and 2023 for 65 neonatal units implementing with NEST360 in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

Rebecca E Penzias, Morris Ondieki Ogero, Robert Tillya, Irabi Kassim, Olabisi Dosunmu, Opeyemi Odedere, Hannah Mwaniki, Vincent O Ochieng, Dolphine Mochache, Samuel K Ngwala and 31 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLOS global public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

41 authors.

Rebecca E PenziasCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6668-9911
Morris Ondieki OgeroCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Robert TillyaIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Irabi KassimIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Olabisi DosunmuAPIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria.
Opeyemi OdedereAPIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria.
Hannah MwanikiDepartment of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Vincent O OchiengDepartment of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Dolphine MochacheDepartment of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Samuel K NgwalaKamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi.
Evelyn ZimbaRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Grace T SokoKamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi.
Christine BohneIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8541-1324
David GatharaCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
James H CrossCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7351-6601
Josephine ShabaniCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Catherine PaulIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Donat ShambaCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Honorati MasanjaIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Nahya SalimIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3784-6478
Charles OsuagwuAPIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3693-7665
Afeez IdowuAPIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria.
Ifeanyichukwu Anthony OguejiAPIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria.
Olukemi TongoDepartment of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Olabanjo Okunlola OgunsolaAPIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9601-0518
Veronica Chinyere EzeakaDepartment of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Ekran RashidDepartment of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
George OkelloRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
John WainainaKenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5593-1211
William M MachariaDepartment of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Msandeni ChiumeKamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3083-8563
Alfred ChaliraMinistry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Queen DubeKamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi.
Edith GichehaRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Elizabeth M MolyneuxKamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi.
Millicent AloohRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1433-5046
Simon CousensCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Maria OdenRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0754-0811
Rebecca Richards-KortumRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2347-9467
Joy E LawnCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4573-1443
Eric O OhumaCentre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Health Facility Assessments (HFAs) are important for measuring and tracking service readiness for small and sick newborn care (SSNC). NEST360 Alliance aims to reduce neonatal mortality in four countries (Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania). NEST360 and UNICEF facilitated HFA tool design with ministries of health in four African countries and developed two complimentary approaches to summarise readiness. Using the NEST360/UNICEF HFA tool, we collected data, developed two service readiness scoring approaches for SSNC (standards-based scoring by adapted World Health Organization (WHO) health system building blocks (HSBBs) and assessing service readiness across the health system, and level-2+ scoring by WHO clinical interventions), and applied across 65 neonatal units implementing NEST360. Service readiness change was assessed between baseline (Sept 2019-March 2021) and follow-up HFA (May-July 2023). For each neonatal unit, a percentage difference score was computed between baseline and 2023 HFA scores. Scores were calculated for each neonatal unit as the unit of analysis, and disaggregated by HSBB, clinical intervention, and sub-modules. Data from 65 neonatal units were analysed, i.e., 36 in Malawi, 13 in Kenya, 7 in Tanzania, and 9 in Nigeria. Median time between baseline and 2023 HFAs was 31 months [IQR 29-34 months]. Median baseline and 2023 scores were 41% [IQR 35-52%] and 55% [IQR 46-62%] respectively with 14% median score change [IQR 4-18%] for level-2+ scores. For standards-based scores, median baseline and 2023 scores were 51% [IQR 48-58%] and 60% [IQR 54-66%] respectively with a 9% median score change [IQR 3-11%]. Hospitals in Tanzania [Median 24%, IQR 16-30%] and Nigeria [Median 28%, IQR 17-30%] showed greater improvements on average for level-2+ scores compared to hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania. Data on changes in service readiness scores can be used to track service readiness over time, benchmark between hospitals, identify gaps, and assess progress towards newborn targets.

Identifiers

PMID40561081
PMCPMC12193846

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