Abstract
Background and aims: Neonatal mortality is the leading cause of under-5 child deaths in China. A pilot intervention on setting up a hospital-based neonatal resuscitation leading group was carried out in 12 hospitals. The aim was to explore a long-term mechanism to strengthen the neonatal health care workforce and improve the quality of neonatal health care service.
Design: One provincial, two prefecture and one county hospitals in each of the 3 provinces were randomly selected to participate. A neonatal resuscitation leading group was set up in each hospital to investigate the model of resuscitation practice training, improve the cooperation between obstetrician and pediatricians, record the process of neonatal resuscitation of neonatal asphyxia cases and lead the exploration of the problems occurred during the resuscitation process. The changes of asphyxia incidence were analyzed to evaluate the effect of the intervention.
Results: The incidence of asphyxia in provincial hospitals decreased from 4.23% to 2.66% (Chi square=5.021, P=0.025) after the intervention. The incidence of asphyxia in prefectural hospitals decreased from 2.83% to 1.67% (Chi square=4.948, P=0.026) and that in county hospitals decreases from 2.48% to 1.22% (Chi square=2.989, P=0.084).
Conclusions: The results of this pilot intervention shows that setting up a hospital-based neonatal resuscitation leading group is an effective method to strengthen in-hospital training, promote the coordination between departments, build up capability for neonatal resuscitation and therefore decrease the incidence of neonatal asphyxia. The lessons learned might be duplicated and extended nationwide as a long-term mechanism to improve the quality of neonatal health care service.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, T., Wang, H., Gong, L. et al. A Sustainable Way to Reduce Neonatal Death in China: Effect of a Pilot Intervention on Setting Up Hospital-Based Neonatal Resuscitation Leading Groups in 12 Hospitals. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 756 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.981
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.981