Simulation-based neonatal resuscitation training in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
BMC Pediatrics · 2026-07-30 · Scoping review
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality remains high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where simulation-based training could enhance frontline providers' resuscitation skills. This scoping review maps evidence on simulation-based neonatal resuscitation training for nurses, midwives, and birth attendants in LMICs. METHODS: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, three databases (Pubmed, Google scholar and Epistemonikos) were searched from 2015 to 2025 for studies on simulation training targeting nurses/midwives in LMICs. Two reviewers screened titles/abstracts and full texts, charting data on intervention design, outcomes, facilitators, and barriers. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included, mainly from Tanzania (n = 6), India (n = 4), Uganda, Kenya, Pakistan, Zambia, Liberia, and Latin America. Interventions included Helping Babies Breathe (HBB; n = 9), PRONTO (n = 3), and low-dose refreshers, varying in duration (1-6 days), fidelity (low-high), and follow-up (immediate to 12 months). Providers showed gains in knowledge, skills (bag-mask ventilation proficiency), and confidence, but retention waned without refreshers. Barriers encompassed equipment scarcity, staffing shortages, and integration challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation training is feasible and effective short-term for LMIC providers, supporting scalable models like HBB with mentoring. Gaps in long-term neonatal outcomes and qualitative insights warrant randomized trials and policy focus on sustainability.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Bag-valve-mask ventilation · Low- and middle-income settings
Related articles
- Laryngeal mask airway versus face mask ventilation or intubation for neonatal resuscitation in low-and-middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, 2023)
- Paramedics' Newborn Life Support Knowledge and Skills Before and After a Targeted Simulation-Based Educational Intervention. (Front Pediatr, 2019)
- A systematic review of mortality and severe morbidities following newborn chest compressions at birth. (Resuscitation, 2026)
- Neonatal resuscitation using a laryngeal mask airway: a randomised trial in Uganda. (Arch Dis Child, 2018)
- A Randomized Trial of Laryngeal Mask Airway in Neonatal Resuscitation. (N Engl J Med, 2020)
- Characterizing prehospital response to neonatal resuscitation. (Resusc Plus, 2021)