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Knowledge and Practices of Healthcare Providers Regarding Neonatal Transport in Eastern Morocco: A Cross-Sectional
Mohammed Ech-Chebab1,2, Anass Ayyad1,2, Hanae Bahari1,2
1Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, MAR.
Insights
Healthcare providers in Eastern Morocco show good knowledge of neonatal transport but inconsistent practices. Improving training and infrastructure is crucial for better neonatal outcomes in this low-resource setting.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Care
- Healthcare Systems
- Transport Medicine
Background:
- Neonatal transport is vital, especially in low-resource settings where poor conditions increase infant mortality.
- This study addresses knowledge and practices of neonatal transport among healthcare providers in Eastern Morocco.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare providers regarding neonatal transport in Eastern Morocco.
- To identify gaps between knowledge and practice in neonatal transport procedures.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving healthcare facilities across different care levels.
- Data collected via an anonymous online questionnaire (Google Forms) from April 1-9, 2026.
- Statistical analysis performed using Microsoft Excel.
Main Results:
- 77 healthcare providers participated, demonstrating high knowledge of stabilization (90.9%), thermoregulation (97.4%), and hypothermia recognition (74.0%).
- Practices were inconsistent: only 51.9% performed pre-transport stabilization, 45.5% ensured continuous monitoring, and 49.4% applied hypothermia prevention.
- Standard ambulances (67.5%) were more common than equipped ones (26.0%).
Conclusions:
- A significant gap exists between healthcare providers' knowledge and actual practices in neonatal transport in Eastern Morocco.
- There is a clear need for structured training programs to improve neonatal transport practices.
- Enhancing transport infrastructure is essential to improve neonatal outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Background:
Neonatal transport is a critical component of neonatal care, particularly in low-resource settings where inadequate transport conditions may contribute to increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess knowledge and practices related to neonatal transport among healthcare providers in Eastern Morocco.
Methods:
This study included healthcare facilities providing care at different levels. A structured anonymous questionnaire created using Google Forms was distributed online. Data was collected between April 1 and April 9, 2026. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, USA).
Results:
A total of 77 healthcare providers participated in this study. Most participants correctly identified key aspects of neonatal transport, including neonatal stabilization (70/77, 90.9%), thermoregulation (75/77, 97.4%), and recognition of hypothermia (57/77, 74.0%). However, reported practices were less consistent. Only 40 (51.9%) participants consistently performed stabilization before transport, 35 (45.5%) ensured continuous monitoring, and 38 (49.4%) of the 77 participants systematically applied preventive measures against hypothermia. In addition, standard ambulances were the most commonly used means of transport (52/77, 67.5%), while only 20 (26.0%) reported using equipped ambulances.
Conclusion:
Neonatal transport practices in Eastern Morocco remain inconsistent despite relatively high levels of knowledge among healthcare providers. This gap between knowledge and practice highlights the need for structured training programs and improved transport infrastructure to enhance neonatal outcomes in resource-limited settings.
