Concordance of a Modified Downes' Score by Physicians and Nurses When Assessing Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Ethiopian Neonatal Network

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the leading cause of mortality of preterm infants in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Lack of diagnostic tools along with scarcity of human resources highlight the need for objective clinical assessments of RDS that can be implemented by multidisciplinary newborn care providers. Our objective was to assess the correlation of modified Downes' scores (MDS) assigned by physicians and nurses in the Ethiopian Neonatal Network (ENN).

Lessons Learnt from Community Referral and Follow-Up of Sick Young Infants with Possible Severe Bacterial Infection in Turkana County, Kenya 

Management of possible severe bacterial infections in young infants (0-59 days) requires timely identification of danger signs and prompt administration of efficacious antibiotic treatment. The possible severe bacterial infection guidelines underscore the importance of close follow-up in an outpatient basis to ensure treatment adherence and early detection of illness-related complications. The purpose of this study was to strengthen the follow-up and referral of sick young infants on days 4 and 8 by introducing community-led interventions that facilitated community health volunteers to identify sick young infants, conduct community reviews, link data with responsive facilities, and refer appropriately.

What Do Health Workers Know and Do about Developmentally Supportive Care for Preterm Infants in a Low-Income Setting: Evidence from Uganda 

Premature birth disrupts in-utero brain development, and preterm infants are at risk of long-term neurodevelopmental issues. The neonatal unit (NICU) can be stressful for a preterm infant at a time of rapid brain growth and plasticity, and this may contribute to poorer developmental outcomes. Modifying the environment to protect against negative sensory experiences and ensure positive stimuli from caregivers is the standard of care in many high-income settings. Little is known about developmentally supportive care in low- or middle-income settings, yet this is where 81% of preterm infants are born. To add to this sparse knowledge base, we determined current knowledge and practice relating to developmentally supportive care among health workers in Uganda.

Using Machine Learning to Determine the Association of Maternal Characteristics and Maternal Serum-Related Biomarkers with Newborn Outcomes 

In 2018, around 40% of children under five years of age were stunted in South Asia, which makes the prevalence of stunting higher in this region than others worldwide. Stunting contributes towards poor health outcomes later in life and is strongly correlated with impaired cognitive development. In most cases, stunting starts in utero, which is why prenatal identification of children at risk for stunting at birth is crucial. The aim of this study was to identify the maternal characteristics and maternal serum biomarkers that are strong predictors of stunting at birth.