Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies
Abstract Background Of the 15 countries with the highest neonatal mortality rates, 13 are characterised by conflict and political instability. Despite well-documented evidence of best practice interventions for neonatal survival, it remains less clear on how these practices are implemented in humani...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal of International Humanitarian Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-022-00121-2 |
| _version_ | 1811257299137724416 |
|---|---|
| author | Sally McBride Alison Morgan |
| author_facet | Sally McBride Alison Morgan |
| author_sort | Sally McBride |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Of the 15 countries with the highest neonatal mortality rates, 13 are characterised by conflict and political instability. Despite well-documented evidence of best practice interventions for neonatal survival, it remains less clear on how these practices are implemented in humanitarian emergency settings. Objective To conduct a systematic review of published and grey literature on the implementation strategies and challenges in addressing neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in SCOPUS, MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINHAL and Global Health for studies published between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2018. Additionally, websites of organisations actively working in humanitarian emergencies were searched. Interventions were reviewed against the existing essential newborn care framework according to the standards outlined in the Newborn Health in Humanitarian Settings Field Guide. Results Twenty-one studies were identified: eight reporting on conflict and refugee settings, nine followed natural disasters and four discussed multiple emergency settings. Few studies addressed all the components of essential newborn care outlined in the field guide regardless of the emergency type. The review of literature demonstrated challenges in addressing essential newborn care identified in all humanitarian settings including the lack of adequate equipment, financing, and trained staff. Implementation strategies identified included quality improvement training for staff, the development of evacuation procedures, integrating with local and government resources and generating spaces in health facilities specifically for newborn care. Conclusions The requirements and initiatives needed to deliver essential newborn care in humanitarian settings are highly variable and context dependent. Given the diversity of factors needing to be addressed by the field guide, more research should be directed towards the adaptability of the implementation strategies to differing emergency contexts. Trial registration PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42018098824 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:55:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06fbb9377d2545c88fcf34bb6afcb684 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2364-3412 2364-3404 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:55:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of International Humanitarian Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-06fbb9377d2545c88fcf34bb6afcb6842022-12-22T03:22:22ZengSpringerOpenJournal of International Humanitarian Action2364-34122364-34042022-06-017112610.1186/s41018-022-00121-2Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergenciesSally McBride0Alison Morgan1The Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of MelbourneThe Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of MelbourneAbstract Background Of the 15 countries with the highest neonatal mortality rates, 13 are characterised by conflict and political instability. Despite well-documented evidence of best practice interventions for neonatal survival, it remains less clear on how these practices are implemented in humanitarian emergency settings. Objective To conduct a systematic review of published and grey literature on the implementation strategies and challenges in addressing neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in SCOPUS, MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINHAL and Global Health for studies published between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2018. Additionally, websites of organisations actively working in humanitarian emergencies were searched. Interventions were reviewed against the existing essential newborn care framework according to the standards outlined in the Newborn Health in Humanitarian Settings Field Guide. Results Twenty-one studies were identified: eight reporting on conflict and refugee settings, nine followed natural disasters and four discussed multiple emergency settings. Few studies addressed all the components of essential newborn care outlined in the field guide regardless of the emergency type. The review of literature demonstrated challenges in addressing essential newborn care identified in all humanitarian settings including the lack of adequate equipment, financing, and trained staff. Implementation strategies identified included quality improvement training for staff, the development of evacuation procedures, integrating with local and government resources and generating spaces in health facilities specifically for newborn care. Conclusions The requirements and initiatives needed to deliver essential newborn care in humanitarian settings are highly variable and context dependent. Given the diversity of factors needing to be addressed by the field guide, more research should be directed towards the adaptability of the implementation strategies to differing emergency contexts. Trial registration PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42018098824https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-022-00121-2Neonatal mortalityHumanitarian emergencyHealth prioritiesPolitical instabilityConflictNatural disaster |
| spellingShingle | Sally McBride Alison Morgan Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies Journal of International Humanitarian Action Neonatal mortality Humanitarian emergency Health priorities Political instability Conflict Natural disaster |
| title | Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies |
| title_full | Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies |
| title_fullStr | Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies |
| title_short | Context matters: a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies |
| title_sort | context matters a systematic review of neonatal care in humanitarian emergencies |
| topic | Neonatal mortality Humanitarian emergency Health priorities Political instability Conflict Natural disaster |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-022-00121-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sallymcbride contextmattersasystematicreviewofneonatalcareinhumanitarianemergencies AT alisonmorgan contextmattersasystematicreviewofneonatalcareinhumanitarianemergencies |