Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41749543›Full record

ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Saving Little Lives Minimum Care Package Interventions in 290 Public Health Facilities in Ethiopia: Protocol for a Non-Randomized Stepped-Wedge Cluster Implementation Trial.

Abiy Seifu Estifanos, Abebe Gebremaraim Gobezayehu, Mekdes Shifeta Argaw, Araya Abrha Medhanyie, Damen Hailemariam, Bezaye Nigussie Kassahun, Selamawit Asfaw Beyene, Henok Tadele, Lamesgin Alamineh Endalamaw, Abebech Demissie Aredo and 18 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

28 authors.

Abiy Seifu EstifanosCenter for Implementation Sciences (CIS) in Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-6833-9823
Abebe Gebremaraim GobezayehuEmory University Ethiopia Office, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia.
Mekdes Shifeta ArgawDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 1560, Ethiopia.
Araya Abrha MedhanyieSchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-9328-684X
Damen HailemariamCenter for Implementation Sciences (CIS) in Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia.
Bezaye Nigussie KassahunDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 1560, Ethiopia.
Selamawit Asfaw BeyeneSchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0003-2595-5885
Henok TadeleDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia.
Lamesgin Alamineh EndalamawEmory University Ethiopia Office, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-3293-9237
Abebech Demissie AredoCenter for Implementation Sciences (CIS) in Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia.ORCID 0009-0004-2985-7240
Znabu Hadush KahsaySchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0003-1242-4508
Kehabtimer Shiferaw KotisoEthiopian Pediatrics Society, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 14205, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-4195-0243
Akalewold AlemayehuSchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 1560, Ethiopia.
Mulusew Lijalem BelewEmory University Ethiopia Office, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia.ORCID 0009-0003-0033-9450
Amanuel Hadgu BerheDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia.
Simret Niguse WeldebirhanDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia.
Asrat DimtseDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia.
Mesay Hailu DangissoEthiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1242, Ethiopia.
Samson Yohannes AmareSchool of Computing, Ethiopian Institute of Technology-Mekelle, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 1871, Tigray, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-5425-1126
Yayeh NegashUnited Nations Children's Fund, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1169, Ethiopia.
Abrham TarikuMinistry of Health, Riyadh P.O. Box 21217, Ethiopia.
John CramerImplementation Science in Global Reproductive Health (Ethiopia), Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Siren RettedalFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4068 Stavanger, Norway.ORCID 0000-0002-4305-141X
Abebe BekeleOromia Regional Bureau, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 24341, Ethiopia.
Fisseha Ashebir GebregizabherTigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle P.O. Box 07, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-1405-0047
Selamawit Mengesha BilalSidama Regional Health Bureau, Hawassa P.O. Box 149, Ethiopia.
Meseret Zelalem TadesseMinistry of Health, Riyadh P.O. Box 21217, Ethiopia.
Dereje DugumaMinistry of Health, Riyadh P.O. Box 21217, Ethiopia.

Funding

Global Financing Facility NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeonatal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in Ethiopia. Despite efforts to implement key evidence-based interventions, their coverage and utilization remain low. The Saving Little Lives (SLL) program aims to scale-up a Minimum Care Package (MCP) of synergistic, life-saving interventions for all liveborn neonates, with a focus on preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants, across 290 hospitals in Ethiopia (206 primary, 69 general, and 15 referral hospitals), representing 82% of all hospitals in the country at the time of the study, and evaluate the impact on neonatal mortality.

methodsA non-randomized stepped-wedge trial will be conducted to evaluate the impact of implementing the SLL MCP interventions. Quantitative evaluation data will be collected from 36 primary hospitals, selected from 206 primary hospitals across four regions, receiving the interventions. An independent evaluation research assistant will be deployed in each of the hospitals to collect data using Open Data Kit (ODK) through interviewing mothers before discharge, on the 29th day of life if discharged, and reviewing medical records. A mixed-method, cross-sectional formative assessment will be conducted prior to implementation, employing quantitative facility assessment and qualitative interviews with mothers, healthcare providers, and facility managers. This will be followed by continuous program learning assessment once implementation begins. Descriptive data will be presented using numbers, percentages, tables, and graphs. Regression modeling and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) will be used to estimate the impact of the SLL MCP interventions. Qualitative data will be gathered through in-depth interviews, digitally recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti Version 7.5 software to assess facility readiness, barriers, and enablers of implementing the SLL MCP interventions. Expected Outcome: We hypothesize that achieving 80% coverage of the SLL MCP interventions among eligible neonates will result in a 35% reduction in neonatal mortality at implementation facilities.

Indexed as

birth asphyxialow birth weightneonatal infectionsneonatal mortalityprematurity

Identifiers

PMID41749543
PMCPMC12939658

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.