Global newborn health research priorities identified in 2014: A review to evaluate the uptake

Abstract

Summary: Background: In 2014, World Health Organization published global research priorities for newborn health till 2025. We conducted this review to summarize completed or ongoing research on the twenty priorities. Methods: We conducted searches for twenty questions on MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, clinical trial registries, and funder websites between July 2014 and May 2022. Studies addressing research questions using adequate design were included. Adequacy of uptake of a priority was assessed based on predefined criteria. Findings: The uptake of research priorities was high for 8 (40%), moderate for 11 (55%), and one priority, effectiveness of training community health workers (CHWs) to treat neonatal sepsis at home remains unaddressed. Priorities with moderate uptake include effectiveness of simplified neonatal resuscitation programme, simple clinical algorithms for CHWs to neonatal infection, CHWs training in basic neonatal resuscitation, community-initiated kangaroo mother care, perinatal audits, and novel tocolytic agents, scaling-up chlorhexidine cord application, stable surfactant with simpler administration, accurate, affordable methods to diagnose fetal distress, strategies for prevention and treatment of intrauterine growth retardation, and causal pathways for antenatal stillbirths. Interpretation: Adequate research was undertaken on pressing global concerns in newborn health. Funders and researchers should reflect on and address less researched areas. Funding: None.