Training Birth Attendants Newborn Resuscitation in Haiti

Among the contributing factors to Haiti's high rate of infant mortality is the prevalence of homebirths. Often, mothers give birth without a healthcare professional present. Deliveries are commonly supervised instead by birth attendants, many of whom have no formal training in neonatal resuscitation. In response to this, the Ministry of Health of Haiti adopted a dual approach to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. First, when possible they encourage women to give birth in health centers, where they can receive quality care and timely interventions. Second, they initiated efforts to provide birth attendants with informal education on proper delivery and neonatal care practices. This approach acknowledges traditional practices and the importance of community-based solutions to maternal and newborn health issues. Global Nursing Fellow, Kierrah Leger, DNP, RN, partnered with local medical clinics in Cabaret, Haiti to provide birth attendants training in Helping Babies Breathe (HBB), an evidence-based educational program developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics that teaches newborn resuscitation and care. The skills learned in this course are particularly valuable in resource-limited settings where many newborns die from birth asphyxia deaths that would likely be prevented using uncomplicated measures such as keeping babies warm and suctioning their mouths after delivery. In 2019, Dr. Leger travelled to Cabaret, providing HBB training for 16 healthcare providers and supervised as they in-turn trained 17 birth attendants. Since the initial visit, 22 healthcare providers, 18 community workers, and 289 birth attendants have received HBB training. Of the 550 deliveries reported by birth attendants following the course, 72 required the life-saving interventions learned during HBB training.