Neonatal mortality and morbidity in the post-implementation period of a neonatal teaching program in provincial hospitals in Laos.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to analyze neonatal mortality and morbidity in the post-implementation period of a neonatal teaching program to examine a possible impact on neonatal outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a retrospective data analysis of all neonatal patients treated in five provincial hospitals in Laos after implementation of a neonatal teaching program.

METHODS: A simulation-based teaching program aims to have positive impact on the theoretical and practical skill of hospital staff in the field of newborn care. A comparison between pre-implementation and post-implementation data of newborns admitted to provincial hospitals in Laos was used to quantify the effect of repetitive teaching on neonatal outcomes.

RESULTS: Neonatal mortality and morbidity as well as case fatality rates of infections and asphyxia decreased in the post-implementation period. In contrast, neonatal mortality rate as well as case fatality rate of prematurity increased. The total neonatal mortality rate increased in the post-implementation period.

CONCLUSIONS: The pre-implementation and post-implementation data enable longitudinal comparisons between hospitals and highlight the differences between hospitals concerning neonatal mortality and morbidity in provincial hospitals in Laos. These data can serve as a basis for an individual adaption of the teaching program to the unique requirements of each single hospital.