Submission ID 131673
| Issue/Objective | Globally, over 2.3 million newborns die annually and 64 countries are off track to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 which aims to reduce the number of newborn deaths to less than 12 per 1000 live births. In global health, the know-do gap refers to the inability to translate evidence, what is known to work, into practice to improve health outcomes. We describe the development of the Newborn Toolkit, a web platform and linked community, co-created by NEST360 and UNICEF, which aims to support implementers of Small and Sick Newborn Care in bridging the know-do gap to improve quality of WHO level-2 neonatal care in low resource settings. |
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| Methodology/Approach | First, we reviewed the landscape of existing knowledge management platforms to identify key elements that facilitate knowledge organization and engagement with evidence. Second, we co-designed site content, with over 300 implementers, building on existing evidence, and organized according to WHO and UNICEF's core components for health systems strengthening. Third, we operationalised the platform by engaging a global community of practice with a focus on high burden contexts including Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. |
| Results | The Newborn Toolkit is an interprofessional educational platform that breaks down professional silos within the global health field enabling application of evidence into practice. Between 2021-2025, there were 150,891 unique users from 198 countries and territories. The Toolkit hosts over 1250 resources including UN guidelines, neonatal unit floor plans, device costing tools and more. 1000 resources are available in English and 250 in French. Cross-country blended learning has been facilitated through 44 webinars. Health systems change is complex; effective organisation of content into simplified step-wise formats, such as Newborn Toolkit Implementation Action Pathways, may support evidence uptake. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Relevant and timely evidence is key to enabling implementation of effective interventions for Small and Sick Newborn Care. Scaling and expanding accessibility to evidence in high burden settings requires increased language offerings, locally led content development, and enabling opportunities for cross-country learning with consideration to context and resources. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Lauren Allison London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Mbozu Sipalo London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Tobias Whatley London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Zoe Griffiths Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage David Gathara KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme Chinyere Ezeaka Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos Olufunke Bolaji Afe Babalola University Msandeni Chiume Paediatrics and Child Health department at Kamuzu Central Hospital Nahya Salim Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences Karen Walker Council of International Neonatal Nurses Alex Stevenson African Neonatal Association Ousmane Ndiaye Cheikh Anta Diop University Hema Magge Gates Foundation Neena Khadka Independent Researcher Tedbabe Degefie Hailegebriel UNICEF Rebecca Richards-Kortum Rice University Maria Oden Rice University Ornella Lincetto Independent Researcher Harriet Ruysen London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Olive Cocoman London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Anita Gibson AlignMNH/Jhpiego Gagan Gupta UNICEF Joy Lawn London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine |
