Abstract:
Abstract
Background:
Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is a low cost, skills-based neonatal resuscitation education program
designed specifically for use in low resource settings. Studies from Tanzania, India and Nepal have demonstrated
that HBB training results in decreased rates of fresh still birth and/or neonatal mortality. However, less is known
regarding the impact of training on neonatal mortality at a population level. Bellad et al. utilized (BMC Pregnancy
Childbirth. 2016;16 (1):222) utilized population based registries to evaluate outcomes before and after training of
facility birth attendants. Their study entitled
“
A pre-post study of a multi-country scale up of resuscitation training of
facility birth attendants: Does Helping Babies Breathe training save lives?
”
suggested facility based training was not
associated with consistent improvements in neonatal mortality on a population level.
Discussion:
Combining outcomes from three diverse settings may have under-estimated the impact of HBB training.
We remain concerned that the modest benefits observed in the Kenyan site were lost with compiling of data.
Summary:
The statement that HBB
“
was not associated with consistent improvements in mortality
”
may lead to the
mistaken conclusion that improvements in neonatal mortality were not seen, when in fact, they were in selected
cohorts. With numerous studies demonstrating potential for reduced neonatal mortality as a result of HBB training, we
encourage interpretation of these findings in the context of local care
