title: National neonatal resuscitation training program in Nigeria (2008-2012): a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Routine institutional training of doctors and nurses on newborn resuscitation have commenced, to improve the quality of resuscitation available to high-risk babies, in Nigeria, as a means of reducing newborn deaths in the country. Perinatal asphyxia contributes to 26% of newborn deaths in Nigeria. Perinatal asphyxia results when babies have difficulty establishing spontaneous respiration after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2008 and 2012, doctors and nurses drawn from all the geo-political zones were trained using the Neonatal Resuscitation Training (NRT) manual of the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Questionnaire-based, cross-sectional surveys of doctor and nurse trainees from the six geo-political zones in Nigeria were conducted eight months after the primary training, to evaluate the post-training neonatal resuscitation activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the period of study, 357 doctors and 370 nurse/midwives were primarily trained in NRT. The overall ratio of step down training was 1:22 with 1:18 for doctors and 1:26 for nurses. In 2008, the delivery attendance rates were 11 per doctor and 9 per nurse/midwife. These rates increased to 30 per doctor and 47 per nurse in 2012. Between 88 and 94% of the doctors and between 72 and 93% of the nurses successfully used bag and mask to help babies breathe in the post-training period. The nurses used bag and mask for infant resuscitation more frequently, compared to doctors, with the rate fluctuating between two-to-one and four-to-one. Over the years, 87 to 94% of the doctors and 92 to 97% of the nurses/midwives trained other birth attendants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NRT in Nigeria is well-subscribed and the frequency of secondary training is good.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Disu
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Njokanma
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Anga
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Solarin
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Olutekunbi
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Ekure
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Ezeaka
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Esangbedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria, .
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ogunlesi
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000628:therapy*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000193:education*; D009549:Nigeria; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States