1. Small and sick newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic: global survey and thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ voices and experiences
- Author
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Queen Dube, Peter Waiswa, Rajiv Bahl, Ivan Mambule, Eric Ohuma, Cally Tann, Joy E Lawn, Sam Newton, Sarmila Mazumder, Nita Bhandari, Sachiyo Yoshida, Eric O Ohuma, Harish Chellani, Araya Abrha Medhanyie, Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu, Aarti Kumar, Vishwajeet Kumar, Abiy Seifu Estifanos, Henok Tadele, Rashmi Kumar, Melissa M Medvedev, Chinyere Ezeaka, Msandeni Chiume, Rajesh Mehta, Kondwani Kawaza, Nahya Salim, Suman P N Rao, Nicole Minckas, Prashantha Y N, Alfrida Camelia Silitonga, Arun Singh Jadaun, Ebunoluwa A Adejuyigbe, Helen Brotherton, Sugandha Arya, Rani Gera, Chinyere V Ezeaka, Abdou Gai, Helga Naburi, Victor Tumukunde, Gyikua Plange-Rhule, Josephine Shabini, Fitsum W/Gebriel, Amanuel Hadgu, Lamesgin Alamineh, Elizabeth Molyneux, Irene Agyeman, Naana Wireko-Brobby, Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, Henry Anyabolu, Osagie Ugowe, Augustine Massawe, James Cross, Melissa Medvedev, Fitsum Woldegebriel, PN Suman Rao, Troy Cunningham, Prathibha Rai, YN Prashantha, Ved Prakash, and Vinay Pratap Singh
- Subjects
Psychological intervention ,Reproductive health and childbirth ,0302 clinical medicine ,Pregnancy ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,030212 general & internal medicine ,COVID-19 Small and Sick Newborn Care Collaborative Group ,Original Research ,Pediatric ,lcsh:R5-920 ,Health Policy ,Infant Care ,public health ,Health Services ,Breast Feeding ,Preparedness ,Workforce ,Female ,Thematic analysis ,lcsh:Medicine (General) ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Health Personnel ,cross-sectional survey ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,paediatrics ,03 medical and health sciences ,Clinical Research ,030225 pediatrics ,Sick Newborn ,medicine ,Humans ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,Pandemics ,SARS ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,Prevention ,Public health ,Infant, Newborn ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Infant ,COVID-19 ,Newborn ,Kangaroo-Mother Care Method ,Good Health and Well Being ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Family medicine ,Generic health relevance ,business ,Breast feeding - Abstract
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting health systems globally. Maternity care disruptions have been surveyed, but not those related to vulnerable small newborns. We aimed to survey reported disruptions to small and sick newborn care worldwide and undertake thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ experiences and proposed mitigation strategies.MethodsUsing a widely disseminated online survey in three languages, we reached out to neonatal healthcare providers. We collected data on COVID-19 preparedness, effects on health personnel and on newborn care services, including kangaroo mother care (KMC), as well as disruptors and solutions.ResultsWe analysed 1120 responses from 62 countries, mainly low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preparedness for COVID-19 was suboptimal in terms of guidelines and availability of personal protective equipment. One-third reported routine testing of all pregnant women, but 13% had no testing capacity at all. More than 85% of health personnel feared for their own health and 89% had increased stress. Newborn care practices were disrupted both due to reduced care-seeking and a compromised workforce. More than half reported that evidence-based interventions such as KMC were discontinued or discouraged. Separation of the mother–baby dyad was reported for both COVID-positive mothers (50%) and those with unknown status (16%). Follow-up care was disrupted primarily due to families’ fear of visiting hospitals (~73%).ConclusionNewborn care providers are stressed and there is lack clarity and guidelines regarding care of small newborns during the pandemic. There is an urgent need to protect life-saving interventions, such as KMC, threatened by the pandemic, and to be ready to recover and build back better.
- Published
- 2021
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