Newborn examination practices and congenital anomaly detection in public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care practices
• Public health interventions
• Congenital anomaly detection

Background:

• Congenital anomalies contribute significantly to infant morbidity and mortality, especially in resource-limited regions.
• Early detection via standardized newborn exams is crucial but understudied in Ethiopia.
• Current neonatal examination practices in Ethiopia require systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively assess current neonatal examination practices in major public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• To identify existing gaps in neonatal examination and documentation.
• To propose recommendations for standardizing neonatal examination protocols.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing twelve key informant interviews with healthcare professionals.
• Purposive sampling of pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, and midwives from four public hospitals.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews using Braun & Clarke's framework, ensuring trustworthiness through multiple validation methods.

Main Results:

• Neonatal examination practices are fragmented, with inconsistent use of structured checklists and insufficient documentation.
• Identified training gaps among clinicians and non-physician healthcare staff.
• Healthcare professionals expressed strong interest in adopting checklist-based approaches for improved anomaly detection.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps exist in neonatal examination and documentation practices within Ethiopian hospitals.
• Developing a national checklist, implementing comprehensive training, and establishing mandatory protocols are recommended.
• These interventions can enhance the early detection and management of congenital anomalies in Ethiopia.