Recorded presentation

Abdullah H. Baqui, PhD, MPH¹, Shams El Arifeen¹, M. Habibur Rahman Seraji¹, Syed Moshfiqur Rahman¹, Rasheduzzaman Shah², Tariq Anwar¹, Gary L. Darmstadt³, and Robert Black¹. (1) Johns Hopkins Public Health Sciences Division, 615 North Wolfe Steet, Room E8138, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-3850, abaqui@jhsph.edu, (2) Health, Population and Nutrition Sector, Save the Children - USA, Bangladesh Field Office, House # 35A, Road # 9/A, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka - 1209, Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1209, Bangladesh, (3) Save the Children, 2000 M Street NW; Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036

Background: A community-based neonatal health intervention project is being implemented in Sylhet, Bangladesh. One of the two models being tested utilizes the services of community health workers (CHWs) to educate families on maternal and newborn care and to provide health care including recognition and management of neonatal infection in the communities. To recognize and manage infections in newborn, the CHWs use a clinical algorithm adapted from the IMCI algorithm.

Objectives: To measure CHW post-training skills in assessing and managing sick newborns. Methodology: The CHWs received five-week training with extensive focus on newborn care including management of sepsis. The training included clinical case presentation in a tertiary level hospital. Post-training evaluation assessed the performance of the trained CHWs on the use of the algorithm and case management of sick newborns in comparison to trained physicians. Results: Each CHW assessed 18 cases, 10 in hospital and 8 in the community. Each case comprised of three components: clinical evaluation, classification and management. In the hospital, 35 out of 40 CHWs passed the test demonstrating adequate knowledge and skills. The remaining 5 CHWs also passed all components after retraining. All the CHWs passed the community assessment. Conclusion: If adequately trained and exposed to clinical cases, a cadre of community level health workers with education around tenth grade will have adequate clinical skills to assess and manage neonates with serious infections.

Learning Objectives:

• See session objectives.

Keywords: Assessments,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: The financial support of United Stages Agency for International Development (USAID) and Saving Newborn Lives Initiative (SNL) of Save the Children/USA through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is acknowledged.

Recorded presentation