ABSTRACT

Background: Although being a crucial strategy to improve newborn outcomes, many midwives must prepare to perform basic newborn resuscitation (BNR). 

Objectives: We assessed the midwives' knowledge and the quality of skills performance regarding BNR and the effectiveness of the educational program in improving midwives' knowledge and skills during the process of BNR. 

Methods: an observational quasi-experimental pretest-post test design was conducted. BNR educational program was adapted from the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). It was conducted through three days of workshops, including An overview lecture, Interactive video modules, and extensive hands-on teaching of basic resuscitation techniques. After that, assessments (pre- and post-tests) were performed. Data were analyzed using the t-test, way ANOVA, The Relative Importance Index analysis (RII), and the linear regression test,

Findings:100 midwives attended the workshop. Their mean scores were: knowledge score before the program (M=68.40, SD= 13.4) to after (M=78.72, SD=10.3). Overall mean prioritization before was 2.71(out of 3) to after 2.9. The mean quality performance of skills (out of 4 points) before and after the educational program, respectively, were (M=2.2, SD=0.8), (3.64, SD=0.5). 

Discussion and Conclusions: The study results showed the significant impact of the BNR educational program, followed immediately by significant improvement in the midwives' knowledge and skills performance.