The effects of training skilled birth attendants in newborn resuscitation in Tanzania. A literature review.

Abstract

Introduction: Millions of newborns die every year worldwide. Prevention of newborn deaths is a huge challenge in developing countries. Objective: This literature review reports the effects of training skilled birth attendants in new-born resuscitation in Tanzania by answering the following review question; What effects are reported by training skilled birth attendants in newborn resuscitation in Tanzania? Design: A literature review. Systematic searches were conducted in the period of January to June 2016. Participants and settings: 113 807 newborns are included from rural to urban settings in Tan-zania. The number of birth attendants are not mentioned. Findings: The seven included studies indicate reduction in early neonatal deaths and fresh stillbirths after training skilled birth attendants in newborn resuscitation. Overall increased knowledge, skills and performance is reported, and action within “the golden minute” is needed. Additionally, a highly cost-effective training program is documented. Implications for practice: Training in newborn resuscitation of skilled birth attendants is re-ported to be beneficial, but not strongly enough in itself to make a difference for newborn re-suscitation in Tanzania. Key conclusions: No training is stronger than its’s weakest factor, and extensive challenges in Tanzania are reported at several levels. The reported challenges are lack of human resources, knowledge, supplies, humanization and dignity in maternity wards. Additionally, hospitals of-ten have neither water nor soap. Further training, action and research are needed to improve skilled birth attendant’s possibilities to save millions of newborn lives.