ACTIONS TO HELP BABIES BREATHE AT BIRTH:TRAINING INTERVENTIONSTO IMPROVE HEALTH WORKERS KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICESAND COMPETENCY ON HELPING BABIES BREATHE INTERTIARY HOSPITAL IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training interventions program on the knowledge and practical skills of health workers in managing birth asphyxia and reducing mortality within 24 hours. Methods: This study was pre- posttest design. Participants were purposively selected to participate in the study. Juba Hospital was selected as intervention and Wau Hospital as control. Health workers were evaluated before and after training from February to June 2017. Post training evaluation was done immediately and three months using NeoNatalie newborn stimulator. Result: 70 health workers were enrolled; 40 were in the intervention and 30 in the control group. In the intervention group, knowledge increased from 42.5 % to 97.8% post-test (p<0.05) but declined to 84.7% (p<0.05) at 3 months. The practical skills among the intervention group increased significantly both at immediate posttest (94.4%) (p<0.05)]. This further increased to 95.4% at 3 months 0.1 (-0.3-0.8). Practical skills for simple resuscitation increased from 27.0% at baseline to 88.9% at immediate post intervention and remained at 89.2%, 3 months follow up (p<0.05).Meanwhile intervention group had significant increase in complex neonatal resuscitation between baseline and immediate post intervention (p<0.05) However, it decreased at 3 months [CI 2.74(-6.71-1.22)] but the changes was insignificant (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study has proven that training was effective in improving the knowledge and practical skill of the health workers and reduction of deaths related to birth asphyxia within 24 hours