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Abstract Background Vulnerable children, including those with neuro-developmental delays and disabilities, often face barriers in accessing early primary education, thus hindering progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4.2. Evidence-based interventions are essential to enhancing inclusivity and establishing sustainable implementation strategies to address this challenge. This study, Every Newborn—Reach up Early Education Intervention for All Children (EN-REACH), builds on the previous Every Newborn- Simplified Measurement Integrating Longitudinal Neurodevelopmental and Growth (EN-SMILING) observational cohort study. This paper provides the protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of a parenting group intervention program for enhancing school readiness in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania, and an embedded process evaluation to inform scalability and feasibility. Methods EN-REACH is a cRCT with at least 150 clusters to evaluate the impact of a parent training program led by trained parent-teacher facilitator pairs, focusing on children aged 4 ~ 6 years preparing for preschool. Approximately 500 participants from the EN-SMILING cohort at each site have been identified. A geographic information system will define ~ 50 clusters in each of the three countries, each with approximately ten parent–child dyads. Half the clusters will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The primary outcome is “school readiness”, assessed using the Measuring Early Learning Quality and Outcomes tool. Secondary outcomes include Intelligence Quotient, child functioning, growth, visual, and hearing assessments. Data will be collected at baseline, and post-intervention data following implementation of the parent group intervention sessions over approximately 5 months. Quantitative data on coverage and quality care, combined with qualitative insights from children, caregivers, facilitators, and stakeholders’ perspectives, will be used to conduct a process evaluation applying the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Discussion This protocol details a trial focused on enhancing school readiness and cognitive abilities in young children, inclusive of those with disabilities, aiming to bridge gap from home to early primary education. EN-REACH aims to provide insights into the effectiveness and acceptability of a co-designed disability-inclusive school readiness program in three countries, potentially impacting national and global policies for all children, including those with disabilities. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on clinicaltrials.gov on 29 February 2024 (NCT06334627).

Abstract Background Infant neurodevelopment in the first years after birth is determined by multiple factors, including parental care and maternal mental wellbeing. In this study, we aim to assess the impact of persistent maternal depressive symptoms during the first 3 months postpartum on infant neurodevelopment at 6 months. Methods Using a longitudinal cohort design, 1253 mother-infant pairs were followed up at 7, 45, and 90 days to assess postpartum depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); infants were followed up at 6 months to assess neuro-developmental status using the WHO’s Infant and Young Child Development (IYCD) tool. A generalized linear regression model was used to assess the association between persistent postpartum depressive symptoms and infant neurodevelopmental delay at 6 months. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with a hospital as a random intercept was used to assess the persistent postpartum depressive symptoms with an IYCD score. Linear regression was used to compare the IYCD scores between exposure groups. Results In the study population, 7.5% of mothers had persistent depressive symptoms, and 7.5% of infants had neurodevelopmental delay. Infants born to mothers with persistent depressive symptoms had a higher proportion of neurodevelopmental delay than infants born to women without persistent symptoms (48.6% vs 5.1%; p

Abstract Background Preventable newborn deaths are a global tragedy with many of these deaths concentrated in the first week and day of life. A simple low-cost intervention, chlorhexidine cleansing of the umbilical cord, can prevent deaths from omphalitis, an infection of the umbilical cord. Bangladesh and Nepal have national policies promoting chlorhexidine use, as well as routinely collected household survey data, which allows for an assessment of coverage and predictors of the intervention. Methods We used data from the 2017–2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey and the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, two large-scale nationally representative household surveys. We studied coverage of single application of chlorhexidine to the umbilical cord of newborns born in the past year using descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analyses. Key predictors of newborns receiving chlorhexidine cleansing, including socio-economic factors, healthcare related factors and the application of harmful and nonharmful substances, were explored in this study. Results Coverage of chlorhexidine cleansing was 15.0% in Bangladesh and 50.7% in Nepal, while the application of a harmful substance was 16.9% in Bangladesh and 22.6% in Nepal. Results from the multivariable analyses indicated that delivery in a health facility was strongly associated with a newborn’s receipt of chlorhexidine in both countries (Bangladesh: OR = 2.23, p = 0.002; Nepal: OR = 5.01, p = 0.000). In Bangladesh, delivery by Cesarean section and application of another non-harmful substance were significantly and positively associated with the receipt of chlorhexidine. In Nepal antenatal care was significantly and positively associated with chlorhexidine, while application of a harmful substance was significantly and negatively associated with receipt of chlorhexidine. Maternal education, urban/rural residence, religion and sex were not significant in the multivariable analysis. Wealth was not a significant factor in Bangladesh, but in Nepal newborns in the two highest wealth quintiles were significantly less likely to receive chlorhexidine than newborns in the lowest wealth quintile. Conclusion As Bangladesh and Nepal continue to scale-up chlorhexidine for newborn umbilical cord care, additional focus on newborns born in non-facility environments may be warranted. Chlorhexidine cleansing may have the potential to be an equitable intervention, as newborns from the poorest wealth quintiles and whose mothers had less education were not disadvantaged in receiving the intervention in these two settings.

Abstract Background International guidelines recommend early intervention to all children at risk of cerebral palsy, but targeted screening programs are often lacking in low- and middle-income settings with the highest burden of disease. Smartphone applications have the potential to improve access to early diagnostics by empowering parents to film their children at home followed by centralized evaluation of videos with General Movements Assessment. We explored mothers’ perceptions about participating in a smartphone aided cerebral palsy screening program in Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods This is an explorative qualitative study that used focus group discussions (n = 2) and individual interviews (n = 4) with mothers of term-born infants surviving birth asphyxia or neonatal seizures. Parents used the NeuroMotion™ smartphone app to film their children at home and the videos were analysed using Precthl’s General Movements Assessment. Sekhon et al.’s framework on the acceptability of health care interventions guided the design of the group discussions and interviews, and the deductive qualitative content analysis. Results Mothers were interested in engaging with the programme and expressed hope it would benefit their children. Most felt using the app was intuitive. They were, however, unclear about the way the analysis was performed. Support from the research team was often needed to overcome an initial lack of self-confidence in using the technology, and to reduce anxiety related to the follow-up. The intervention was overall perceived as recommendable but should be supplemented by a face-to-face consultation. Conclusion Smartphone aided remote screening of cerebral palsy is acceptable in a lower middle-income population but requires additional technical support.

Abstract Background Improving the healthcare providers (HCP) basic resuscitation skills can reduce intrapartum related mortality in low- and middle-income countries. However, the resuscitation intervention’s successful implementation is largely dependent on proper facilitation and context. This study aims to identify the facilitators and barriers for the implementation of a novel resuscitation package as part of the quality improvement project in Nepal. Methods The study used a qualitative descriptive design. The study sites included four purposively chosen public hospitals in Nepal, where the resuscitation package (Helping Babies Breathe [HBB] training, resuscitation equipment and NeoBeat) had been implemented as part of the quality improvement project. Twenty members of the HCP, who were trained and exposed to the package, were selected through convenience sampling to participate in the study interviews. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via telephone and video calls. Twenty interview data were analyzed with a deductive qualitative content analysis based on the core components of the i-PARiHS framework. Results The findings suggest that there was a move to more systematic resuscitation practices among the staff after the quality improvement project’s implementation. This positive change was supported by a neonatal heart rate monitor (NeoBeat), which guided resuscitation and made it easier. In addition, seeing the positive outcomes of successful resuscitation motivated the HCPs to keep practicing and developing their resuscitation skills. Facilitation by the project staff enabled the change. At the same time, facilitators provided extra support to maintain the equipment, which can be a challenge in terms of sustainability, after the project. Furthermore, a lack of additional resources, an unclear leadership role, and a lack of coordination between nurses and medical doctors were barriers to the implementation of the resuscitation package. Conclusion The introduction of the resuscitation package, as well as the continuous capacity building of local multidisciplinary healthcare staff, is important to continue the accelerated efforts of improving newborn care. To secure sustainable change, facilitation during implementation should focus on exploring local resources to implement the resuscitation package sustainably. Trial Registration Not applicable.

Abstract Background - An estimated 240,000 newborns die worldwide within 28 days of birth every year due to congenital birth defect. Exposure to poor indoor environment contributes to poor health outcomes. In this research, we aim to evaluate the association between the usage of different type household cooking fuel and congenital birth defects in Nepal, as well as investigate whether air ventilation usage had a modifying effect on the possible association. Methods - This is a secondary analysis of multi-centric prospective cohort study evaluating Quality Improvement Project in 12 public referral hospitals of Nepal from 2017 to 2018. The study sample was 66,713 women with a newborn, whose information was available in hospital records and exit interviews. The association between cooking fuel type usage and congenital birth defects was investigated with adjusted multivariable logistic regression. To investigate the air ventilation usage, a stratified multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results -In the study population (N = 66,713), 60.0% used polluting fuels for cooking and 89.6% did not have proper air ventilation. The prevalence rate of congenital birth defect was higher among the families who used polluting fuels for cooking than those who used cleaner fuels (5.5/1000 vs. 3.5/1000, p

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented mental stress to women after childbirth. In this study, we assessed the association of disrespectful care after childbirth and COVID-19 exposure before/during labour with postpartum depression symptoms assessed at 7 and 45 days in Nepal. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in 9 hospitals of Nepal among 898 women. The independent data collection system was established in each hospital to collection information on disrespectful care after birth via observation, exposure to COVID-19 infection before/during labour and other socio-demographic via interview. The information on depressive symptoms at 7 and 45 days was collected using the validated Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool. Multi-level regression was performed to assess the association of disrespectful care after birth and COVID-19 exposure with postpartum depression. Result In the study, 16.5% were exposed to COVID-19 before/during labour and 41.8% of them received disrespectful care after childbirth. At 7 and 45 days postpartum, 21.3% and 22.4% of women reported depressive symptoms respectively. In the multi-level analysis, at the 7th postpartum day, women who had disrespectful care and no COVID-19 exposure still had 1.78 higher odds of having depressive symptom (aOR, 1.78; 95% CI; 1.16, 2.72). In the multi-level analysis, at 45th postpartum day, women who had disrespectful care and no COVID-19 exposure had 1.37 higher odds of having depressive symptoms (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI; 0.82, 2.30), but not statistically significant. Conclusion Disrespectful care after childbirth was strongly associated with postpartum depression symptoms irrespective of COVID-19 exposure during pregnancy. Caregivers, even during the global pandemic, should continue to focus their attention for immediate breast feeding and skin-to-skin contact, as this might reduce the risk for depressive symptoms postpartum.

Abstract Background Poor quality of maternal and newborn care contributes to nearly two million deaths of mothers and their newborns worldwide annually. Assessment of readiness and availability of perinatal care services in health facilities provides evidence to underlying bottlenecks for improving quality of care. This study aimed to evaluate the readiness and availability of perinatal care services in public hospitals of Nepal using WHO’s health system framework. Methods This was a mixed methods study conducted in 12 public hospitals in Nepal. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the readiness and availability of perinatal care services. Three different data collection tools were developed. The tools were pretested in a tertiary maternity hospital and the discrepancies in the tools were corrected before administering in the study hospitals. The data were collected between July 2017 to July 2018. Results Only five out of 12 hospitals had the availability of all the basic newborn care services under assessment. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) service was lacking in most of the hospitals (7 out of 12). Only two hospitals had all health workers involved in perinatal care services trained in neonatal resuscitation. All of the hospitals were found not to have all the required equipment for newborn care services. Overall, only 60% of the health workers had received neonatal resuscitation training. A small proportion (3.2%) of the newborn infants with APGAR

Abstract Introduction Trust of women and families toward health institutions has led to increased use of their services for childbirth. Whilst unpleasant experience of care during childbirth will halt this achievement and have adverse consequences. We examined the experience of women regarding the care received during childbirth in health institutions in Nepal. Method A prospective cohort study conducted in 11 hospitals in Nepal for a period of 18 months. Using a semi-structured questionnaire based on the typology of mistreatment during childbirth, information on childbirth experience was gathered from women (n = 62,926) at the time of discharge. Using those variables, principal component analysis was conducted to create a single mistreatment index. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of the mistreatment index with sociodemographic, obstetric and newborn characteristics. Result A total of 62,926 women were consented and enrolled in the study. Of those women, 84.3% had no opportunity to discuss any concerns, 80.4% were not adequately informed before providing care, and 1.5% of them were refused for care due to inability to pay. According to multivariate regression analysis, women 35 years or older (β, − 0.3587; p-value, 0.000) or 30–34 years old (β,− 0.38013; p-value, 0.000) were less likely to be mistreated compared to women aged 18 years or younger. Women from a relatively disadvantaged (Dalit) ethnic group were more likely to be mistreated (β, 0.29596; p-value, 0.000) compared to a relatively advantaged (Chettri) ethnic group. Newborns who were born preterm (β, − 0.05988; p-value, 0.000) were less likely to be mistreated than those born at term. Conclusion The study reports high rate of some categories of mistreatment of women during childbirth. Women from disadvantaged ethnic group, young women, and term newborns are at higher risk of mistreatment. Strengthening health system and improving health workers’ readiness and response will be key in experience respectful care during childbirth.

Abstract Background Timely initiation of breastfeeding can reduce neonatal morbidities and mortality. We aimed to study predictors for timely initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 h of birth) among neonates born in hospitals of Nepal. Method A prospective observational study was conducted in four public hospitals between July and October 2018. All women admitted in the hospital for childbirth and who consented were included in the study. An independent researchers observed whether the neonates were placed in skin-to-skin contact, delay cord clamping and timely initiation of breastfeeding. Sociodemographic variables, obstetric and neonate information were extracted from the maternity register. We analysed predictors for timely initiation of breastfeeding with Pearson chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Results Among the 6488 woman-infant pair observed, breastfeeding was timely initiated in 49.5% neonates. The timely initiation of breastfeeding was found to be higher among neonates who were placed skin-to-skin contact (34.9% vs 19.9%, p - value

Abstract Background Since the Millennium Development Goal era, there have been several efforts to increase institutional births using demand side financing. Since 2005, Government of Nepal has implemented Maternity Incentive Scheme (MIS) to reduce out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) for institutional birth. We aim to assess OOPE among women who had institutional births and coverage of MIS in Nepal. Method We conducted a prospective cohort study in 12 hospitals of Nepal for a period of 18 months. All women who were admitted in the hospital for delivery and consented were enrolled into the study. Research nurses conducted pre-discharge interviews with women on costs paid for medical services and non-medical services. We analysed the out of pocket expenditure by mode of delivery, duration of stay and hospitals. We also analysed the coverage of maternal incentive scheme in these hospitals. Results Among the women (n-21,697) reporting OOPE, the average expenditure per birth was 41.5 USD with 36 % attributing to transportation cost. The median OOPE was highest in Bheri hospital (60.3 USD) in comparison with other hospitals. The OOPE increased by 1.5 USD (1.2, 1.8) with each additional day stay in the hospital. There was a difference in the OOPE by mode of delivery, duration of hospital-stay and hospital of birth. The median OOPE was high among the caesarean birth with 43.3 USD in comparison with vaginal birth, 32.6 USD. The median OOPE was 44.7 USD, if the women stayed for 7 days and 33.5 USD if the women stayed for 24 h. The OOPE increased by 1.5 USD with each additional day of hospital stay after 24 h. The coverage of maternal incentive was 96.5 % among the women enrolled in the study. Conclusions Families still make out of pocket expenditure for institutional birth with a large proportion attributed to hospital care. OOPE for institutional births varied by duration of stay and mode of birth. Given the near universal coverage of incentive scheme, there is a need to review the amount of re-imbursement done to women based on duration of stay and mode of birth.

Abstract Background Perinatal events which result in compromised oxygen delivery to the fetus can lead to Birth Asphyxia (BA). While the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of BA have been characterized, less is known in low resource settings. Aim To determine the incidence of Birth Asphyxia (BA) in Nepal and to evaluate associated risk factors and outcomes of this condition. Methods A nested observational study was conducted in 12 hospitals of Nepal for a period of 14 months. Babies diagnosed as BA at ≥37 weeks of gestation were identified and demographics were reviewed. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The incidence of BA in this study was 6 per 1000 term livebirths and was higher among women 35 years and above. Predictors for BA were instrumented vaginal delivery (aOR:4.4, 95% CI, 3.1–6.1), fetal distress in labour (aOR:1.9, 95% CI, 1.0–3.6), malposition (aOR:1.8, 95% CI, 1.0–3.0), birth weight less than 2500 g (aOR:2.0, 95% CI, 1.3–2.9), gestational age ≥ 42 weeks (aOR:2.0, 95% CI, 1.3–3.3) and male gender (aOR:1.6, 95% CI, 1.2–2.0). The risk of pre-discharge mortality was 43 times higher in babies with BA (aOR:42.6, 95% CI, 32.2–56.3). Conclusion The incidence of Birth asphyxia in Nepal higher than in more resourced setting. A range of obstetric and neonatal risk factors are associated with BA with an associated high risk of pre-discharge mortality. Interventions to improve management and decrease rates of BA could have marked impact on outcomes in low resource settings.

Abstract Background High-quality resuscitation among non-crying babies immediately after birth can reduce intrapartum-related deaths and morbidity. Helping Babies Breathe program aims to improve performance on neonatal resuscitation care in resource-limited settings. Quality improvement (QI) interventions can sustain simulated neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills and clinical performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a scaled-up QI intervention package on the performance of health workers on basic neonatal resuscitation care among non-crying infants in public hospitals in Nepal. Methods A prospective observational cohort design was applied in four public hospitals of Nepal. Performances of health workers on basic neonatal care were analysed before and after the introduction of the QI interventions. Results Out of the total 32,524 births observed during the study period, 3031 newborn infants were not crying at birth. A lower proportion of non-crying infants were given additional stimulation during the intervention compared to control (aOR 0.18; 95% CI 0.13–0.26). The proportion of clearing the airway increased among non-crying infants after the introduction of QI interventions (aOR 1.23; 95% CI 1.03–1.46). The proportion of non-crying infants who were initiated on BMV was higher during the intervention period (aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.04–1.57) compared to control. The cumulative median time to initiate ventilation during the intervention was 39.46 s less compared to the baseline. Conclusion QI intervention package improved health workers’ performance on the initiation of BMV, and clearing the airway. The average time to first ventilation decreased after the implementation of the package. The QI package can be scaled-up in other public hospitals in Nepal and other similar settings.

Abstract Background Population-based household surveys, notably the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), remain the main source of maternal and newborn health data for many low- and middle-income countries. As part of the Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study, this paper focuses on testing validity of measurement of maternal and newborn indicators around the time of birth (intrapartum and postnatal) in survey-report. Methods EN-BIRTH was an observational study testing the validity of measurement for selected maternal and newborn indicators in five secondary/tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania, conducted from July 2017 to July 2018. We compared women’s report at exit survey with the gold standard of direct observation or verification from clinical records for women with vaginal births. Population-level validity was assessed by validity ratios (survey-reported coverage: observer-assessed coverage). Individual-level accuracy was assessed by sensitivity, specificity and percent agreement. We tested indicators already in DHS/MICS as well as indicators with potential to be included in population-based surveys, notably the first validation for small and sick newborn care indicators. Results 33 maternal and newborn indicators were evaluated. Amongst nine indicators already present in DHS/MICS, validity ratios for baby dried or wiped, birthweight measured, low birthweight, and sex of baby (female) were between 0.90–1.10. Instrumental birth, skin-to-skin contact, and early initiation of breastfeeding were highly overestimated by survey-report (2.04–4.83) while umbilical cord care indicators were massively underestimated (0.14–0.22). Amongst 24 indicators not currently in DHS/MICS, two newborn contact indicators (kangaroo mother care 1.00, admission to neonatal unit 1.01) had high survey-reported coverage amongst admitted newborns and high sensitivity. The remaining indicators did not perform well and some had very high “don’t know” responses. Conclusions Our study revealed low validity for collecting many maternal and newborn indicators through an exit survey instrument, even with short recall periods among women with vaginal births. Household surveys are already at risk of overload, and some specific clinical care indicators do not perform well and may be under-powered. Given that approximately 80% of births worldwide occur in facilities, routine registers should also be explored to track coverage of key maternal and newborn health interventions, particularly for clinical care.

Abstract Background An estimated >2 million babies stillborn around the world each year lack visibility. Low- and middle-income countries carry 84% of the burden yet have the least data. Most births are now in facilities, hence routine register-recording presents an opportunity to improve counting of stillbirths, but research is limited, particularly regarding accuracy. This paper evaluates register-recorded measurement of hospital stillbirths, classification accuracy, and barriers and enablers to routine recording. Methods The EN-BIRTH mixed-methods, observational study took place in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania (2017–2018). Clinical observers collected time-stamped data on perinatal care and birth outcomes as gold standard. To assess accuracy of routine register-recorded stillbirth rates, we compared birth outcomes recorded in labour ward registers to observation data. We calculated absolute rate differences and individual-level validation metrics (sensitivity, specificity, percent agreement). We assessed misclassification of stillbirths with neonatal deaths. To examine stillbirth appearance (fresh/macerated) as a proxy for timing of death, we compared appearance to observed timing of intrauterine death based on heart rate at admission. Results 23,072 births were observed including 550 stillbirths. Register-recorded completeness of birth outcomes was > 90%. The observed study stillbirth rate ranged from 3.8 (95%CI = 2.0,7.0) to 50.3 (95%CI = 43.6,58.0)/1000 total births and was under-estimated in routine registers by 1.1 to 7.3 /1000 total births (register: observed ratio 0.9–0.7). Specificity of register-recorded birth outcomes was > 99% and sensitivity varied between hospitals, ranging from 77.7–86.1%. Percent agreement between observer-assessed birth outcome and register-recorded birth outcome was very high across all hospitals and all modes of birth (> 98%). Fresh or macerated stillbirth appearance was a poor proxy for timing of stillbirth. While there were similar numbers of stillbirths misclassified as neonatal deaths (17/430) and neonatal deaths misclassified as stillbirths (21/36), neonatal deaths were proportionately more likely to be misclassified as stillbirths (58.3% vs 4.0%). Enablers to more accurate register-recording of birth outcome included supervision and data use. Conclusions Our results show these routine registers accurately recorded stillbirths. Fresh/macerated appearance was a poor proxy for intrapartum stillbirths, hence more focus on measuring fetal heart rate is crucial to classification and importantly reduction in these preventable deaths.

Abstract Background Respectful maternal and newborn care (RMNC) is an important component of high-quality care but progress is impeded by critical measurement gaps for women and newborns. The Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study was an observational study with mixed methods assessing measurement validity for coverage and quality of maternal and newborn indicators. This paper reports results regarding the measurement of respectful care for women and newborns. Methods At one EN-BIRTH study site in Pokhara, Nepal, we included additional questions during exit-survey interviews with women about their experiences (July 2017–July 2018). The questionnaire was based on seven mistreatment typologies: Physical; Sexual; or Verbal abuse; Stigma/discrimination; Failure to meet professional standards of care; Poor rapport between women and providers; and Health care denied due to inability to pay. We calculated associations between these typologies and potential determinants of health – ethnicity, age, sex, mode of birth – as possible predictors for reporting poor care. Results Among 4296 women interviewed, none reported physical, sexual, or verbal abuse. 15.7% of women were dissatisfied with privacy, and 13.0% of women reported their birth experience did not meet their religious and cultural needs. In descriptive analysis, adjusted odds ratios and multivariate analysis showed primiparous women were less likely to report respectful care (β = 0.23, p-value

Abstract Background Umbilical cord hygiene prevents sepsis, a leading cause of neonatal mortality. The World Health Organization recommends 7.1% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) application to the umbilicus after home birth in high mortality contexts. In Bangladesh and Nepal, national policies recommend CHX use for all facility births. Population-based household surveys include optional questions on CHX use, but indicator validation studies are lacking. The Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) was an observational study assessing measurement validity for maternal and newborn indicators. This paper reports results regarding CHX. Methods The EN-BIRTH study (July 2017–July 2018) included three public hospitals in Bangladesh and Nepal where CHX cord application is routine. Clinical-observers collected tablet-based, time-stamped data regarding cord care during admission to labour and delivery wards as the gold standard to assess accuracy of women’s report at exit survey, and of routine-register data. We calculated validity ratios and individual-level validation metrics; analysed coverage, quality and measurement gaps. We conducted qualitative interviews to assess barriers and enablers to routine register-recording. Results Umbilical cord care was observed for 12,379 live births. Observer-assessed CHX coverage was very high at 89.3–99.4% in all 3 hospitals, although slightly lower after caesarean births in Azimpur (86.8%), Bangladesh. Exit survey-reported coverage (0.4–45.9%) underestimated the observed coverage with substantial “don’t know” responses (55.5–79.4%). Survey-reported validity ratios were all poor (0.01 to 0.38). Register-recorded coverage in the specific column in Bangladesh was underestimated by 0.2% in Kushtia but overestimated by 9.0% in Azimpur. Register-recorded validity ratios were good (0.9 to 1.1) in Bangladesh, and poor (0.8) in Nepal. The non-specific register column in Pokhara, Nepal substantially underestimated coverage (20.7%). Conclusions Exit survey-report highly underestimated observed CHX coverage in all three hospitals. Routine register-recorded coverage was closer to observer-assessed coverage than survey reports in all hospitals, including for caesarean births, and was more accurately captured in hospitals with a specific register column. Inclusion of CHX cord care into registers, and tallied into health management information system platforms, is justified in countries with national policies for facility-based use, but requires implementation research to assess register design and data flow within health information systems.

Abstract Background Annually, 14 million newborns require stimulation to initiate breathing at birth and 6 million require bag-mask-ventilation (BMV). Many countries have invested in facility-based neonatal resuscitation equipment and training. However, there is no consistent tracking for neonatal resuscitation coverage. Methods The EN-BIRTH study, in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania (2017–2018), collected time-stamped data for care around birth, including neonatal resuscitation. Researchers surveyed women and extracted data from routine labour ward registers. To assess accuracy, we compared gold standard observed coverage to survey-reported and register-recorded coverage, using absolute difference, validity ratios, and individual-level validation metrics (sensitivity, specificity, percent agreement). We analysed two resuscitation numerators (stimulation, BMV) and three denominators (live births and fresh stillbirths, non-crying, non-breathing). We also examined timeliness of BMV. Qualitative data were collected from health workers and data collectors regarding barriers and enablers to routine recording of resuscitation. Results Among 22,752 observed births, 5330 (23.4%) babies did not cry and 3860 (17.0%) did not breathe in the first minute after birth. 16.2% (n = 3688) of babies were stimulated and 4.4% (n = 998) received BMV. Survey-report underestimated coverage of stimulation and BMV. Four of five labour ward registers captured resuscitation numerators. Stimulation had variable accuracy (sensitivity 7.5–40.8%, specificity 66.8–99.5%), BMV accuracy was higher (sensitivity 12.4–48.4%, specificity > 93%), with small absolute differences between observed and recorded BMV. Accuracy did not vary by denominator option.

Abstract Background Kangaroo mother care (KMC) reduces mortality among stable neonates ≤2000 g. Lack of data tracking coverage and quality of KMC in both surveys and routine information systems impedes scale-up. This paper evaluates KMC measurement as part of the Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study. Methods The EN-BIRTH observational mixed-methods study was conducted in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania from 2017 to 2018. Clinical observers collected time-stamped data as gold standard for mother-baby pairs in KMC wards/corners. To assess accuracy, we compared routine register-recorded and women’s exit survey-reported coverage to observed data, using different recommended denominator options (≤2000 g and ≤ 2499 g). We analysed gaps in quality of provision and experience of KMC. In the Tanzanian hospitals, we assessed daily skin-to-skin duration/dose and feeding frequency. Qualitative data were collected from health workers and data collectors regarding barriers and enablers to routine register design, filling and use. Results Among 840 mother-baby pairs, compared to observed 100% coverage, both exit-survey reported (99.9%) and register-recorded coverage (92.9%) were highly valid measures with high sensitivity. KMC specific registers outperformed general registers. Enablers to register recording included perceptions of data usefulness, while barriers included duplication of data elements and overburdened health workers. Gaps in KMC quality were identified for position components including wearing a hat. In Temeke Tanzania, 10.6% of babies received daily KMC skin-to-skin duration/dose of ≥20 h and a further 75.3% received 12–19 h. Regular feeding ≥8 times/day was observed for 36.5% babies in Temeke Tanzania and 14.6% in Muhimbili Tanzania. Cup-feeding was the predominant assisted feeding method. Family support during admission was variable, grandmothers co-provided KMC more often in Bangladesh. No facility arrangements for other family members were reported by 45% of women at exit survey. Conclusions Routine hospital KMC register data have potential to track coverage from hospital KMC wards/corners. Women accurately reported KMC at exit survey and evaluation for population-based surveys could be considered. Measurement of content, quality and experience of KMC need consensus on definitions. Prioritising further KMC measurement research is important so that high quality data can be used to accelerate scale-up of high impact care for the most vulnerable.

Abstract Background Immediate newborn care (INC) practices, notably early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), are fundamental for newborn health. However, coverage tracking currently relies on household survey data in many settings. “Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals” (EN-BIRTH) was an observational study validating selected maternal and newborn health indicators. This paper reports results for EIBF. Methods The EN-BIRTH study was conducted in five public hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania, from July 2017 to July 2018. Clinical observers collected tablet-based, time-stamped data on EIBF and INC practices (skin-to-skin within 1 h of birth, drying, and delayed cord clamping). To assess validity of EIBF measurement, we compared observation as gold standard to register records and women’s exit-interview survey reports. Percent agreement was used to assess agreement between EIBF and INC practices. Kaplan Meier survival curves showed timing. Qualitative interviews were conducted to explore barriers/enablers to register recording. Results Coverage of EIBF among 7802 newborns observed for ≥1 h was low (10.9, 95% CI 3.8–21.0). Survey-reported (53.2, 95% CI 39.4–66.8) and register-recorded results (85.9, 95% CI 58.1–99.6) overestimated coverage compared to observed levels across all hospitals. Registers did not capture other INC practices apart from breastfeeding. Agreement of EIBF with other INC practices was high for skin-to-skin (69.5–93.9%) at four sites, but fair/poor for delayed cord-clamping (47.3–73.5%) and drying (7.3–29.0%). EIBF and skin-to-skin were the most delayed and EIBF rarely happened after caesarean section (0.5–3.6%). Qualitative findings suggested that focusing on accuracy, as well as completeness, contributes to higher quality with register reporting. Conclusions Our study highlights the importance of tracking EIBF despite measurement challenges and found low coverage levels, particularly after caesarean births. Both survey-reported and register-recorded data over-estimated coverage. EIBF had a strong agreement with skin-to-skin but is not a simple tracer for other INC indicators. Other INC practices are challenging to measure in surveys, not included in registers, and are likely to require special studies or audits. Continued focus on EIBF is crucial to inform efforts to improve provider practices and increase coverage. Investment and innovation are required to improve measurement.

Abstract Background Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aspires to improve universal health coverage through reduction of Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) and improving the quality of care. In the last two decades, there have been several efforts to reduce the OOPE for maternal and newborn care. In this paper, we evaluate the change in the OOPE for treatment of sick newborn at hospital before and after implementation of a free newborn care (FNC) program in hospitals of Nepal. Methods Ministry of Health and Population implemented a free newborn care program which reimbursed the cost of treatment for all sick newborns admitted in public hospitals in Nepal from November 2017. We conducted this pre-post quasi-experimental study with four months of pre-implementation and 12 months of post-implementation of the program in 12 hospitals of Nepal. Logistic regression analysis was conducted for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney test was applied for continuous variables to determine statistically significant differences between pre- and post- intervention period. Results A total of 353 sick newborns were admitted into these hospitals before implementation of the FNC program while 1122 sick newborns were admitted after the implementation. Before implementation, 17 % of mothers paid for sick newborn care while after implementation 15.3 % mothers (p-value = 0.59) paid for care. The OOPE for treatment of sick newborn at hospital before implementation was Mean ± SD: US dollar 14.3 + 12.1 and after implementation was Mean ± SD: USD 13.0 ± 9.6 (p-value = 0.71). There were no significant differences in neonatal morbidity after the implementation of the FNC program. The stay in a hospital bed (in days) decreased after the implementation of FNC program (p-value

Abstract Background Every year an estimated 7.9 million babies are born with birth defect. Of these babies, more than 3 million die and 3.2 million have disability. Improving nationwide information on prevalence of birth defect, risk factor and consequence is required for better resource allocation for prevention, management and rehabilitation. In this study, we assess the prevalence of birth defect, associated risk factors and consequences in Nepal. Method This is a prospective cohort study conducted in 12 hospitals of Nepal for 18 months. All the women who delivered in the hospitals during the study period was enrolled. Independent researchers collected data on the social and demographic information using semi-structured questionnaire at the time of discharge and clinical events and birth outcome information from the clinical case note. Data were analyzed on the prevalence and type of birth defect. Logistic regression was done to assess the risk factor and consequences for birth defect. Results Among the total 87,242 livebirths, the prevalence of birth defects was found to be 5.8 per 1000 live births. The commonly occurring birth defects were anencephaly (3.95%), cleft lip (2.77%), cleft lip and palate (6.13%), clubfeet (3.95%), eye abnormalities (3.95%) and meningomyelocele (3.36%). The odds of birth defect was higher among mothers with age

Abstract Background Simulation-based training in neonatal resuscitation is more effective when reinforced by both practice and continuous improvement processes. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement program combined with an innovative provider feedback device on neonatal resuscitation practice and outcomes in a public referral hospital of Nepal. Methods A pre- and post-intervention study will be implemented in Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, a hospital with 8610 deliveries per year. The intervention package will include simulation-based training (Helping Babies Breathe) enhanced with a real-time feedback system (the NeoBeat newborn heart rate meter with the NeoNatalie Live manikin and upright newborn bag-mask with PEEP) accompanied by a quality improvement process. An independent research team will collect perinatal data and conduct stakeholder interviews. Discussion This study will provide further information on the efficiency of neonatal resuscitation training and implementation in the context of new technologies and quality improvement processes. Trial registration https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18148368 , date of registration-31 July 2018

Abstract Background Global caesarean section (CS) rates have raised concern of a potential overuse of the procedure in both high- and low-resource settings. We sought to assess management and outcomes of deliveries with emergency CSs due to fetal distress and prolonged labor at 12 public hospitals in Nepal and determine factors associated with suboptimal CS indications. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study on all deliveries between the 14th of April 2017 and the 17th of October 2018 at 12 public hospitals in Nepal and included all emergency CSs due to fetal distress and prolonged labor. Analysis was conducted using Pearson chi-square test and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results The total cohort included 104,322 deliveries of which 18,964 (18%) were CSs (13,095 [13%] emergency CSs and 5230 [5.0%] elective CSs). We identified 1806 emergency CSs due to fetal distress and 1322 emergency CSs due to prolonged labor. Among CSs due to fetal distress, only 36% had fetal heart rate monitoring performed according to protocol, and among CSs due to prolonged labor, the partograph was completely filled in only 8.6%. Gestational age 37 weeks and birth weight > 2500 g. We found no association between suboptimal CS indications and maternal ethnicity or education level. Conclusions As fetal heart rate monitoring and partograph are fundamental to diagnose fetal distress and prolonged labor, the inappropriate monitoring proceeding CS decisions disclosed in our study indicate that CSs were performed on suboptimal indications. We call for improved quality of intrapartum monitoring, enhanced documentation in medical records, and structured auditing of CS indications in order to curb the potentially harmful CS trend.

Abstract Background Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of death during the first month of life and early empirical treatment with injectable antibiotics is a life-saving intervention. Adherence to World Health Organisation guidelines on first line antibiotics is crucial to mitigate the risks of increased antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this paper was to evaluate if treatment of early onset neonatal sepsis in a low-income facility setting observe current guidelines and if compliance is influenced by contextual factors. Methods This cohort study used data on antimicrobial treatment of neonatal sepsis onset within 72 h of life from 12 regional hospitals participating in a scale-up trial of a neonatal resuscitation quality improvement package intervention in Nepal. Infants treated according to guidelines were compared with those receiving other antimicrobials. A multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the intervention and time trend was applied. Results 1564 infants with a preliminary diagnosis of early onset sepsis were included. A majority (74.9%) were treated according to guidelines and adherence was increasing over time. Infants born at larger facilities (adjusted Odds Ratio 5.6), those that were inborn (adjusted Odds Ratio 1.97) or belonging to a family of dis-advantaged caste (adjusted Odds Ratio 2.15) had higher odds for treatment according to guidelines. A clinical presentation of lethargy or tachypnoea was associated with adherence to guidelines. Conclusion Adherence to guidelines for antibiotic treatment of early neonatal sepsis was moderately high in this low-income setting. Odds for observing guidelines increased with facility size, for inborn infants and if the family belonged to a dis-advantaged caste. Cefotaxime was a common alternative choice when guidelines were not followed, highly relevant for the risk of increased antimicrobial resistance. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN30829654 , registered 17th of May, 2017.

Abstract Background Preterm birth is a worldwide epidemic and a leading cause of neonatal mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and consequences of preterm birth in Nepal. Methods This was an observational study conducted in 12 public hospitals of Nepal. All the babies born during the study period were included in the study. Babies born

Abstract Background Every year, neonatal infections account for approximately 750,000 neonatal deaths globally. It is the third major cause of neonatal death, globally and in Nepal. There is a paucity of data on clinical aetiology and outcomes of neonatal infection in Nepal. This paper aims to assess the incidence and risk factors of neonatal infection in babies born in public hospitals of Nepal. Methods This is a prospective cohort study conducted for a period of 14 months, nested within a large-scale cluster randomized control trial which evaluated the Helping Babies Breathe Quality Improvement package in 12 public hospitals in Nepal. All the mothers who consented to participate within the study and delivered in these hospitals were included in the analysis. All neonates admitted into the sick newborn care unit weighing > 1500 g or/and 32 weeks or more gestation with clinical signs of infection or positive septic screening were taken as cases and those that did not have an infection were the comparison group. Bivariate and multi-variate analysis of socio-demographic, maternal, obstetric and neonatal characteristics of case and comparison group were conducted to assess risk factors associated with neonatal infection. Results The overall incidence of neonatal infection was 7.3 per 1000 live births. Babies who were born to first time mothers were at 64% higher risk of having infection (aOR-1.64, 95% CI, 1.30–2.06, p-value

Abstract Background Annually, 18 million babies are born to mothers 18 years or less. Two thirds of these births take place in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to social and biological factors, adolescent mothers have a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes. We conducted this study to assess the incidence, risk factors, maternal and neonatal health consequences among adolescent mothers. Methods We conducted an observational study in 12 hospitals of Nepal for a period of 12 months. Patient medical record and semi-structured interviews were used to collect demographic information of mothers, intrapartum care and outcomes. The risks of adverse birth outcomes among adolescent compared to adult mothers were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results During the study period, among the total 60,742 deliveries, 7.8% were adolescent mothers. Two third of the adolescent mothers were from disadvantaged ethnic groups, compared to half of adult mothers (66.1% vs 47.8%, p-value

Abstract Aim Maintaining neonatal resuscitation skills among health workers in low-resource settings will require continuous quality improvement efforts. We aimed to evaluate the effect of skill drills and feedback on neonatal resuscitation and the optimal number of skill drills required to maintain the ventilation skill in a simulated setting. Methods An observational study was conducted for a period of 3 months in a referral hospital of Nepal. Sixty nursing staffs were trained on Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) 2.0 and daily skill drills using a high-fidelity manikin. The high-fidelity manikin had different clinical case scenarios and provided feedback as “well done” or “improvement required” based on the ventilation performance. Adequate ventilation was defined as bag-and-mask ventilation at the rate of 40–60 breaths per minute. The effective ventilation was defined as adequate ventilation with a “well done” feedback. We assessed the correlation of the number of skill drills and clinical case scenario with adequate ventilation rate using Pearson’s correlation. We assessed the correlation of the number of skill drills performed by each participant with effective ventilation using the Mann-Whitney test. Results Among the total of 60 nursing staffs, all of them were competent with an average score of 12.73 ± 1.09 out of 14 (p

Abstract Background About 5.8 million maternal deaths, neonatal deaths and stillbirths occur every year with 99% of them taking place in low- and middle-income countries. Two thirds of them could be prevented through cost-effective interventions during pregnancy, intrapartum and postpartum periods. Despite the availability of standards and guidelines for the care of mother and newborn, challenges remain in translating these standards into practice in health facilities. Although several quality improvement (QI) interventions have been systematically reviewed by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) group, evidence lack on QI interventions for improving perinatal outcomes in health facilities. This systematic review will identify QI interventions implemented for maternal and neonatal care in health facilities and their impact on perinatal outcomes. Methods/design This review will look at studies of mothers, newborn and both who received inpatient care at health facilities. QI interventions targeted at health system level (macro), at healthcare organization (meso) and at health workers practice (micro) will be reviewed. Mortality of mothers and newborn and relevant health worker practices will be assessed. The MEDLINE, Embase, World Health Organization Global Health Library, Cochrane Library and trial registries electronic databases will be searched for relevant studies from the year 2000 onwards. Data will be extracted from the identified relevant literature using Epi review software. Risk of bias will be assessed in the studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized and observational studies. Standard data synthesis and analysis will be used for the review, and the data will be analysed using EPPI Reviewer 4. Discussion This review will inform the global agenda for evidence-based health care by (1) providing a basis for operational guidelines for implementing clinical standards of perinatal care, (2) identify research priorities for generating evidence for QI interventions and (3) QI intervention options with lessons learnt for implementation based on the level of needed resources. Systematic review registration PROSPERO registration number CRD42018106075

Abstract Background Experiments have shown improved cardiovascular stability in lambs if umbilical cord clamping is postponed until positive pressure ventilation is started. Studies on intact cord resuscitation on human term infants are sparse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in clinical outcomes in non-breathing infants between groups, one where resuscitation is initiated with an intact umbilical cord (intervention group) and one group where cord clamping occurred prior to resuscitation (control group). Methods Randomized controlled trial, inclusion period April to August 2016 performed at a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Late preterm and term infants born vaginally, non-breathing and in need of resuscitation according to the ‘Helping Babies Breathe’ algorithm were randomized to intact cord resuscitation or early cord clamping before resuscitation. Main outcome measures were saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2), heart rate and Apgar at 1, 5 and 10 minutes after birth. Results At 10 minutes after birth, SpO2 (SD) was significantly higher in the intact cord group compared to the early cord clamping group, 90.4 (8.1) vs 85.4 (2.7) %, P

Abstract Background Each year, 2.2 million intrapartum-related deaths (intrapartum stillbirths and first day neonatal deaths) occur worldwide with 99% of them taking place in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the accelerated increase in the proportion of deliveries taking place in health facilities in these settings, the stillborn and neonatal mortality rates have not reduced proportionately. Poor quality of care in health facilities is attributed to two-thirds of these deaths. Improving quality of care during the intrapartum period needs investments in evidence-based interventions. We aim to evaluate the quality improvement package—Scaling Up Safer Bundle Through Quality Improvement in Nepal (SUSTAIN)—on intrapartum care and intrapartum-related mortality in public hospitals of Nepal. Methods We will conduct a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in eight public hospitals with each having least 3000 deliveries a year. Each hospital will represent a cluster with an intervention transition period of 2 months in each. With a level of significance of 95%, the statistical power of 90% and an intra-cluster correlation of 0.00015, a study period of 19 months should detect at least a 15% change in intrapartum-related mortality. Quality improvement training, mentoring, systematic feedback, and a continuous improvement cycle will be instituted based on bottleneck analyses in each hospital. All concerned health workers will be trained on standard basic neonatal resuscitation and essential newborn care. Portable fetal heart monitors (Moyo®) and neonatal heart rate monitors (Neobeat®) will be introduced in the hospitals to identify fetal distress during labor and to improve neonatal resuscitation. Independent research teams will collect data in each hospital on intervention inputs, processes, and outcomes by reviewing records and carrying out observations and interviews. The dose-response effect will be evaluated through process evaluations. Discussion With the global momentum to improve quality of intrapartum care, better understanding of QI package within a health facility context is important. The proposed package is based on experiences from a similar previous scale-up trial carried out in Nepal. The proposed evaluation will provide evidence on QI package and technology for implementation and scale up in similar settings. Trial registration number ISRCTN16741720. Registered on 2 March 2019.

Abstract Background Delayed cord clamping (DCC) after 180 s reduces iron deficiency up to 8 months of infancy compared to babies who received Early Cord Clamping (ECC) at less than 60 s. Experimentally DCC has shown to improve cardio-vascular stability. To evaluate the effect of delayed (≥180 s) group versus early (≤60 s) cord clamping group on peripheral blood oxygenation and heart rate up to 10 min after birth on term and late preterm infants. Methods We conducted a single centred randomized clinical trial in a low risk delivery unit in tertiary Hospital, Nepal. One thousand five hundred ten women, low risk vaginal delivery with foetal heart rate (FHR) ≥ 100 ≤ 160 beats per minute (bpm) and gestational age (≥33 weeks) were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to cord clamped ≤60 s of birth and ≥ 180 s. The main outcome measures were oxygen saturation, heart rate from birth to 10 min and time of spontaneous breathing. The oxygen saturation and heart rate, the time of first breath and establishment of regular breathing was analysed using Student t-test to compare groups. We analysed the range of heart rate distributed by different centiles from the time of birth at 30 s intervals until 10 min. Results The oxygen saturation was 18% higher at 1 min, 13% higher at 5 min and 10% higher at 10 min in babies who had cord clamping in delayed group compared to early group (p

Abstract Objective Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) (≥ 60 s) is recognized to improve iron status and neurodevelopment compared to early umbilical cord clamping. The aim of this study is to identify current umbilical cord clamping practice and factors determining the timing of clamping in a low-resource setting where prevalence of anemia in infants is high. Results A cross-sectional study design including 128 observations of clinical practice in a tertiary-level maternity hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Overall 48% of infants received DCC. The mean and median cord clamping times were 61 ± 33 and 57 (38–79) s, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that infants born during the night shift were five times more likely to receive DCC (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4–38.0). Additionally, infants born after an obstetric complication were 2.5 times more likely to receive DCC (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5.3), and babies requiring ventilation had a 65% lower likelihood of receiving DCC (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13–0.88). Despite the existence of standard protocols for cord clamping and its proven benefit, the lack of uniformity in the timing of cord clamping reveals poor translation of clinical guidelines into clinical practice. Clinical trial registration ISRCTN97846009

Abstract Background Each year 700,000 infants die due to intrapartum-related complications. Implementation of Helping Babies Breathe (HBB)-a simplified neonatal resuscitation protocol in low-resource clinical settings has shown to reduce intrapartum stillbirths and first-day neonatal mortality. However, there is a lack of evidence on the effect of different HBB implementation strategies to improve and sustain the clinical competency of health workers on bag-and-mask ventilation. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of multi-faceted implementation strategy for HBB, as a quality improvement cycle (HBB-QIC), on the retention of neonatal resuscitation skills in a tertiary hospital of Nepal. Methods A time-series design was applied. The multi-faceted intervention for HBB-QIC included training, daily bag-and-mask skill checks, preparation for resuscitation before every birth, self-evaluation and peer review on neonatal resuscitation skills, and weekly review meetings. Knowledge and skills were assessed through questionnaires, skill checklists, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) before implementation of the HBB-QIC, immediately after HBB training, and again at 6 months. Means were compared using paired t-tests, and associations between skill retention and HBB-QIC components were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results One hundred thirty seven health workers were enrolled in the study. Knowledge scores were higher immediately following the HBB training, 16.4 ± 1.4 compared to 12.8 ± 1.6 before (out of 17), and the knowledge was retained 6 months after the training (16.5 ± 1.1). Bag-and-mask skills improved immediately after the training and were retained 6 months after the training. The retention of bag-and-mask skills was associated with daily bag-and-mask skill checks, preparation for resuscitation before every birth, use of a self-evaluation checklist, and attendance at weekly review meetings. The implementation strategies with the highest association to skill retention were daily bag-and-mask skill checks (RR-5.1, 95% CI 1.9–13.5) and use of self-evaluation checklists after every delivery (RR-3.8, 95% CI 1.4–9.7). Conclusions Health workers who practiced bag-and-mask skills, prepared for resuscitation before every birth, used self-evaluation checklists, and attended weekly review meetings were more likely to retain their neonatal resuscitation skills. Further studies are required to evaluate HBB-QIC in primary care settings, where the number of deliveries is gradually increasing. Trial registration ISRCTN97846009 . Date of Registration- 15 August 2012.