Workforce Interventions to Deliver Postnatal Care to Improve Neonatal Outcomes in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Narrative Synthesis

Akter, T; Sibbritt, D; Dawson, A

Workforce Interventions to Deliver Postnatal Care to Improve Neonatal Outcomes in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Narrative Synthesis

Akter, T Sibbritt, D

Dawson, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2016, 28 (8), pp. 659 - 681
Issue Date:: 2016-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Akter, T	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dawson, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0926-2202	en_US
dc.date.issued	2016-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2016, 28 (8), pp. 659 - 681	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1010-5395	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/44742
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health. Reducing neonatal mortality rates in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) requires postnatal interventions to be delivered through an appropriately prepared and supported workforce. This review examines health workforce interventions that deliver integrated packages of postnatal care to improve neonatal outcomes in LMICs. We conducted a structured search of peer-reviewed articles published during 2003-2014 that investigated the delivery of postnatal interventions by formal and lay health workers. We selected 13 studies and analyzed them using a narrative synthesis methodology. This review observed a wide divergence among studies regarding the outcomes as well as the approaches and duration of workforce training and staff supervision. Except 4, all studies observed a significant reduction in neonatal mortality. On the other hand, teams of lay health workers appear to be more effective in improving neonatal outcomes. Further improvement in the performance of health care providers may require emphasis on workforce interventions such as competency assessment, the acquisition of appropriate skills, and supervisory guidelines. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity and limited number of studies do not allow us to arrive at definitive conclusions, and we recommend the need for the harmonization of future studies, with uniformity of outcome measures and cost analyses.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/1010539516656435	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Postnatal Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant Mortality	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Developing Countries	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Clinical Competence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Newborn	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic	en_US
dc.title	Workforce Interventions to Deliver Postnatal Care to Improve Neonatal Outcomes in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Narrative Synthesis	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	8	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	28	en_US
utslib.for	1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	8	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	28	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health. Reducing neonatal mortality rates in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) requires postnatal interventions to be delivered through an appropriately prepared and supported workforce. This review examines health workforce interventions that deliver integrated packages of postnatal care to improve neonatal outcomes in LMICs. We conducted a structured search of peer-reviewed articles published during 2003-2014 that investigated the delivery of postnatal interventions by formal and lay health workers. We selected 13 studies and analyzed them using a narrative synthesis methodology. This review observed a wide divergence among studies regarding the outcomes as well as the approaches and duration of workforce training and staff supervision. Except 4, all studies observed a significant reduction in neonatal mortality. On the other hand, teams of lay health workers appear to be more effective in improving neonatal outcomes. Further improvement in the performance of health care providers may require emphasis on workforce interventions such as competency assessment, the acquisition of appropriate skills, and supervisory guidelines. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity and limited number of studies do not allow us to arrive at definitive conclusions, and we recommend the need for the harmonization of future studies, with uniformity of outcome measures and cost analyses.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/44742