A Study to Assess the Association of Aseptic Practices Being Followed and its Effect on the Overall Outcome of Selected Special Care Newborn Units (SCNUs) of Madhya Pradesh at Different Levels.

Abstract

The neonatal mortality rate in India is high and stagnant. Special Care Newborn Units (SCNUs) have been set up at different levels of Health Care Delivery System to provide quality newborn-care services in several hospitals to meet this challenge. Many units are located in the districts where the burden of neonatal deaths is high, and access to special newborn care is poor. The study was conducted to assess the functioning of SCNUs in six centers of India. The evaluation was based on an analysis of secondary data from the six units that had been functioning for at least three year. A cross-sectional survey was also conducted to assess the availability of Quality care and Aseptic practices implemented at different levels of SNCUs. Descriptive statistics were used for analyzing the inputs (Quality care and aseptic practices) and outcomes (morbidity and mortality). The rate of mortality among admitted neonates was taken as the key outcome variable to assess the performance of the units. Chi-square test was used for analyzing the trend of case-fatality rate over a period of 3 years considering the first year of operationalization as the base. Correlation coefficients were estimated to understand the possible association of case-fatality rate with factors, such as bed:doctor ratio, bed:nurse ratio, average duration of stay, and bed occupancy rate, and the asepsis score was determined. The rates of admission increased from a median of 16.7 per 100 deliveries in 2012 to 19.5 per 100 deliveries in 2014. The case-fatality rate shows progressive decline in all the units in Last 3 years. Proportional mortality due to sepsis and low birthweight (LBW) declined significantly over two years (LBW <2.5 kg). The major reasons for admission and the major causes of deaths were birth asphyxia, sepsis, and LBW/prematurity. The units had a varying nurse:bed ratio (1:1-1:2.14). The bed occupancy rate ranged from 83% to 121% (median 115%), and the average duration of stay ranged from three days to 8 days (median 5 days). It is possible to set up and manage quality SCNUs and improve the survival of newborns with LBW and sepsis in developing countries, although several challenges relating to human resources, maintenance of equipment, and maintenance of asepsis remain.

Keywords

• Cross-sectional studies
• Neonatal mortality
• Newborn care
• Performance evaluation
• Aseptic practices