Super Divya to the rescue! Exploring Nurse Mentor Supervisor perceptions on a digital tool to support learning and engagement for simulation educators in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: Since 2014, the Government of Bihar and CARE India have implemented a nurse mentoring program that utilizes PRONTO International's simulation and team trainings to improve obstetric and neonatal care. Together they trained simulation educators known as Nurse Mentor Supervisors to conduct simulation trainings in rural health facilities across the state. Sustaining the knowledge and engagement of these simulation educators at a large-scale has proven difficult and resource intensive. To address this, the University of Utah with PRONTO International and with input from the University of California San Francisco, created an interactive, virtual education module based on a comic superhero named Super Divya to reinforce simulation educator concepts. This study examined the perceptions of Nurse Mentor Supervisors on Super Divya's accessibility, usefulness, and potential after implementation of Super Divya: Origin Story. METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews with 17 Nurse Mentor Supervisors in Bihar, India. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews were conducted virtually via Zoom™ using a semi-structured interview guide in Hindi and English. Participants were identified with strict inclusion criteria and convenience sampling methods. Interviews were analyzed using a framework analysis. RESULTS: Nurse Mentor Supervisors found Super Divya to be engaging, innovative, relatable, and useful in teaching tips and tricks for simulation training. Supervisors thought the platform was largely accessible with some concerns around internet connectivity and devices. The majority reacted positively to the idea of distributing Super Divya to other simulation educators in the nurse mentoring program and had suggestions for additional clinical and simulation educator training topics. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential of Super Divya to engage simulation educators in continuous education. At a time when virtual education is increasingly important and in-person training was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Super Divya engaged Supervisors in the nurse mentoring program. We have incorporated suggestions for improvement of Super Divya into future modules. Further research can help understand how knowledge from Super Divya can improve simulation facilitation skills and behaviors, and explore potential for reinforcing clinical skills via this platform. ETHICAL APPROVAL: This study was approved by the institutional review board at the University of California San Francisco (IRB # 20-29902).

Training nurse simulation educators at scale to improve maternal and newborn health: a case study from Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: Simulation has been shown to improve clinical and behavioral skills of birth attendants in low-resource settings at a low scale. Populous, low-resource settings such as Bihar, India, require large cadres of simulation educators to improve maternal and newborn health. It's unknown if simulation facilitation skills can be adopted through a train of trainers' cascade. To fill this gap, we designed a study to evaluate the simulation and debrief knowledge, attitudes and skills of a third generation of 701 simulation educators in Bihar, India. In addition, we assessed the physical infrastructure where simulation takes place in 40 primary healthcare facilities in Bihar, India. METHODS: We performed a 1 year before-after intervention study to assess the simulation facilitation strengths and weaknesses of a cadre of 701 nurses in Bihar, India. The data included 701 pre-post knowledge and attitudes self-assessments; videos of simulations and associated debriefs conducted by 701 providers at 40 primary healthcare centers. RESULTS: We observed a statistically significant difference in knowledge and attitude scores before and after the 4-day PRONTO simulation educator training. The average number of participants in a simulation video was 5 participants (range 3-8). The average length of simulation videos was 10:21 minutes. The simulation educators under study, covered behavioral in 90% of debriefs and cognitive objectives were discussed in all debriefs. CONCLUSION: This is the first study assessing the simulation and debrief facilitation knowledge and skills of a cadre of 701 nurses in a low-resource setting. Simulation was implemented by local nurses at 353 primary healthcare centers in Bihar, India. Primary healthcare centers have the physical infrastructure to conduct simulation training. Some simulation skills such as communication via whiteboard were widely adopted. Advanced skills such as eliciting constructive feedback without judgment require practice.

Will Coronavirus Disease 2019 Become Seasonal?

This manuscript explores the question of the seasonality of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by reviewing 4 lines of evidence related to viral viability, transmission, ecological patterns, and observed epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 in the Southern Hemispheres' summer and early fall.

Training and evaluating simulation debriefers in low-resource settings: lessons learned from Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: To develop effective and sustainable simulation training programs in low-resource settings, it is critical that facilitators are thoroughly trained in debriefing, a critical component of simulation learning. However, large knowledge gaps exist regarding the best way to train and evaluate debrief facilitators in low-resource settings. METHODS: Using a mixed methods approach, this study explored the feasibility of evaluating the debriefing skills of nurse mentors in Bihar, India. Videos of obstetric and neonatal post-simulation debriefs were assessed using two known tools: the Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE) tool and Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH). Video data was used to evaluate interrater reliability and changes in debriefing performance over time. Additionally, twenty semi-structured interviews with nurse mentors explored perceived barriers and enablers of debriefing in Bihar. RESULTS: A total of 73 debriefing videos, averaging 18 min each, were analyzed by two raters. The CAPE tool demonstrated higher interrater reliability than the DASH; 13 of 16 CAPE indicators and two of six DASH indicators were judged reliable (ICC > 0.6 or kappa > 0.40). All indicators remained stable or improved over time. The number of 'instructors questions,' the amount of 'trainee responses,' and the ability to 'organize the debrief' improved significantly over time (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.04). Barriers included fear of making mistakes, time constraints, and technical challenges. Enablers included creating a safe learning environment, using contextually appropriate debriefing strategies, and team building. Overall, nurse mentors believed that debriefing was a vital aspect of simulation-based training. CONCLUSION: Simulation debriefing and evaluation was feasible among nurse mentors in Bihar. Results demonstrated that the CAPE demonstrated higher interrater reliability than the DASH and that nurse mentors were able to maintain or improve their debriefing skills overtime. Further, debriefing was considered to be critical to the success of the simulation training. However, fear of making mistakes and logistical challenges must be addressed to maximize learning. Teamwork, adaptability, and building a safe learning environment enhanced the quality enhanced the quality of simulation-based training, which could ultimately help to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Bihar.

Simulation-enhanced nurse mentoring to improve preeclampsia and eclampsia care: an education intervention study in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: Inadequately treated, preeclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E) may rapidly lead to severe complications in both mothers and neonates, and are estimated to cause 60,000 global maternal deaths annually. Simulation-based training on obstetric and neonatal emergency management has demonstrated promising results in low- and middle-income countries. However, the impact of simulation training on use of evidence-based practices for PE/E diagnosis and management in low-resource settings remains unknown. METHODS: This study was based on a statewide, high fidelity in-situ simulation training program developed by PRONTO International and implemented in collaboration with CARE India on PE/E management in Bihar, India. Using a mixed methods approach, we evaluated changes over time in nurse mentees' use of evidence-based practices during simulated births at primary health clinics. We compared the proportion and efficiency of evidence-based practices completed during nurse mentees' first and last participation in simulated PE/E cases. Twelve semi-structured interviews with nurse mentors explored barriers and enablers to high quality PE/E care in Bihar. RESULTS: A total of 39 matched first and last simulation videos, paired by facility, were analyzed. Videos occurred a median of 62 days apart and included 94 nurses from 33 primary health centers. Results showed significant increases in the median number of 'key history questions asked,' (1.0 to 2.0, p = 0.03) and 'key management steps completed,' (2.0 to 3.0, p = 0.03). The time from BP measured to magnesium sulfate given trended downwards by 3.2 min, though not significantly (p = 0.06). Key barriers to high quality PE/E care included knowledge gaps, resource shortages, staff hierarchy between physicians and nurses, and poor relationships with patients. Enablers included case-based and simulation learning, promotion of teamwork and communication, and effective leadership. CONCLUSION: Simulation training improved the use of evidence-based practices in PE/E simulated cases and has the potential to increase nurse competency in diagnosing and managing complex maternal complications such as PE/E. However, knowledge gaps, resource limitations, and interpersonal barriers must be addressed in order to improve care. Teamwork, communication, and leadership are key mechanisms to facilitate high quality PE/E care in Bihar.

The power of practice: simulation training improving the quality of neonatal resuscitation skills in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: Globally, neonatal mortality accounts for nearly half of under-five mortality, and intrapartum related events are a leading cause. Despite the rise in neonatal resuscitation (NR) training programs in low- and middle-income countries, their impact on the quality of NR skills amongst providers with limited formal medical education, particularly those working in rural primary health centers (PHCs), remains incompletely understood. METHODS: This study evaluates the impact of PRONTO International simulation training on the quality of NR skills in simulated resuscitations and live deliveries in rural PHCs throughout Bihar, India. Further, it explores barriers to performance of key NR skills. PRONTO training was conducted within CARE India's AMANAT intervention, a maternal and child health quality improvement project. Performance in simulations was evaluated using video-recorded assessment simulations at weeks 4 and 8 of training. Performance in live deliveries was evaluated in real time using a mobile-phone application. Barriers were explored through semi-structured interviews with simulation facilitators. RESULTS: In total, 1342 nurses participated in PRONTO training and 226 NR assessment simulations were matched by PHC and evaluated. From week 4 to 8 of training, proper neck extension, positive pressure ventilation (PPV) with chest rise, and assessment of heart rate increased by 14%, 19%, and 12% respectively (all p ≤ 0.01). No difference was noted in stimulation, suction, proper PPV rate, or time to completion of key steps. In 252 live deliveries, identification of non-vigorous neonates, use of suction, and use of PPV increased by 21%, 25%, and 23% respectively (all p < 0.01) between weeks 1-3 and 4-8. Eighteen interviews revealed individual, logistical, and cultural barriers to key NR skills. CONCLUSION: PRONTO simulation training had a positive impact on the quality of key skills in simulated and live resuscitations throughout Bihar. Nevertheless, there is need for ongoing improvement that will likely require both further clinical training and addressing barriers that go beyond the scope of such training. In settings where clinical outcome data is unreliable, data triangulation, the process of synthesizing multiple data sources to generate a better-informed evaluation, offers a powerful tool for guiding this process.

Care of the mother-infant dyad: a novel approach to conducting and evaluating neonatal resuscitation simulation training in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: As the global under-five mortality rate declines, an increasing percentage is attributable to early neonatal mortality. A quarter of early neonatal deaths are due to perinatal asphyxia. However, neonatal resuscitation (NR) simulation training in low-resource settings, where the majority of neonatal deaths occur, has achieved variable success. In Bihar, India, the poorest region in South Asia, there is tremendous need for a new approach to reducing neonatal morality. METHODS: This analysis aims to assess the impact of a novel in-situ simulation training program, developed by PRONTO International and implemented in collaboration with CARE India, on NR skills of nurses in Bihar. Skills were evaluated by clinical complexity of the simulated scenario, which ranged from level 1, requiring NR without a maternal complication, to level 3, requiring simultaneous management of neonatal and maternal complications. A total of 658 nurses at 80 facilities received training 1 week per month for 8 months. Simulations were video-recorded and coded for pre-defined clinical skills using Studiocode™. RESULTS: A total of 298 NR simulations were analyzed. As simulation complexity increased, the percentage of simulations in which nurses completed key steps of NR did not change, even with only 1-2 providers in the simulation. This suggests that with PRONTO training, nurses were able to maintain key skills despite higher clinical demands. As simulation complexity increased from level 1 to 3, time to completion of key NR steps decreased non-significantly. Median time to infant drying decreased by 7.5 s (p = 0.12), time to placing the infant on the warmer decreased by 21.7 s (p = 0.27), and time to the initiation of positive pressure ventilation decreased by 20.8 s (p = 0.12). Nevertheless, there remains a need for improvement in absolute time elapsed between delivery and completion of key NR tasks. CONCLUSIONS: PRONTO simulation training enabled nurses in Bihar to maintain core NR skills in simulation despite demands for higher-level triage and management. Although further evaluation of the PRONTO methodology is necessary to understand the full scope of its impact, this analysis highlights the importance of conducting and evaluating simulation training in low-resource settings based on simultaneous care of the mother-infant dyad.

Simulation and team training to improve preterm birth knowledge, evidence-based practices, and communication skills in midwives in Kenya and Uganda: Findings from a pre- and post-intervention analysis.

Simulation training in basic and emergency obstetric and neonatal care has previously shown success in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in low-resource settings. Though preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal deaths, application of this training methodology geared specifically towards reducing preterm birth mortality and morbidity has not yet been implemented and evaluated. The East Africa Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi-EA) was a multi-country cluster randomized controlled (CRCT) trial that successfully improved outcomes of preterm neonates in Migori County, Kenya and the Busoga region of Uganda through an intrapartum package of interventions. PRONTO simulation and team training (STT) was one component of this package and was introduced to maternity unit providers in 13 facilities. This analysis was nested within the larger CRCT and specifically looked at the impact of the STT portion of the intervention package. The PRONTO STT curriculum was modified to emphasize prematurity-related intrapartum and immediate postnatal care practices, such as assessment of gestational age, identification of preterm labour, and administration of antenatal corticosteroids. Knowledge and communication techniques were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention through a multiple-choice knowledge test. Clinical skills and communication techniques used in context were assessed through the use of evidence-based practiced (EBPs) as documented in video-recorded simulations through StudioCodeTM video analysis. Pre-and-post scores were compared in both categories using Chi-squared tests. Knowledge assessment scores improved from 51% to 73% with maternal-related questions improving from 61% to 74%, neonatal questions from 55% to 73%, and communication technique questions from 31% to 71%. The portion of indicated preterm birth EBPs performed in simulation increased from 55% to 80% with maternal-related EBPs improving from 48% to 73%, neonatal-related EBPs from 63% to 93%, and communication techniques from 52% to 69%. STT substantially increased preterm birth-specific knowledge and EBPs performed in simulation.

Simulation and nurse-mentoring in a statewide nurse mentoring program in Bihar, India: diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage and intrapartum asphyxia.

Background: Mentoring programs that include simulation, bedside mentoring, and didactic components are becoming increasingly popular to improve quality. These programs are designed with little evidence to inform the optimal composition of mentoring activities that would yield the greatest impact on provider skills and patient outcomes. We examined the association of number of maternal and neonatal emergency simulations performed with the diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and intrapartum asphyxia in real patients. Methods: We used a prospective cohort and births were compared between- and within-facility over time. Setting included 320 public facilities in the state of Bihar, India May 2015 - 2017. The participants were deliveries and livebirths. The interventions carried out were mobile nurse-mentoring program with simulations, teamwork and communication activities, didactic teaching, demonstrations of clinical procedures and bedside mentoring including conducting deliveries. Nurse mentor pairs visited each facility for one week, covering four facilities over a four-week period, for seven to nine consecutive months. The outcome measures were diagnosis of PPH and intrapartum asphyxia. Results:Relative to the bottom one-third facilities that performed the fewest maternal simulations, facilities in the middle one-third group diagnosed 26% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.59) more cases of PPH in real patients. Similarly, facilities in the middle one-third group, diagnosed 25% (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.50) more cases of intrapartum asphyxia relative to the bottom third group that did the fewest neonatal simulations. Facilities in the top one-third group (i.e., performed the most simulations) did not have a significant difference in diagnosis of both outcomes, relative to the bottom one-third group. Results:Relative to the bottom one-third facilities that performed the fewest maternal simulations, facilities in the middle one-third group diagnosed 26% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.59) more cases of PPH in real patients. Similarly, facilities in the middle one-third group, diagnosed 25% (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.50) more cases of intrapartum asphyxia relative to the bottom third group that did the fewest neonatal simulations. Facilities in the top one-third group (i.e., performed the most simulations) did not have a significant difference in diagnosis of both outcomes, relative to the bottom one-third group. Conclusions: Findings suggest a complex relationship between performing simulations and opportunities for direct practice with patients, and there may be an optimal balance in performing the two that would maximize diagnosis of PPH and intrapartum asphyxia.

Increases in diagnosis and management of obstetric and neonatal complications in district hospitals during a high intensity nurse-mentoring program in Bihar, India.

Maternal and neonatal mortality in Bihar, India was far higher than the aspirational levels set out by the Sustainable Development Goals. Provider training programs have been implemented in many low-resource settings to improve obstetric and neonatal outcomes. This longitudinal investigation assessed diagnoses and management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, birth asphyxia (BA), and low birth weight (LBW), as part of the CARE's AMANAT program in 22 District Hospitals in Bihar, between 2015 and 2017. Physicians and nurse mentors conducted clinical instruction, simulations and teamwork and communication activities, infrastructure and management support, and data collection for 6 consecutive months. Analysis of diagnosis included 11,259 non-referred and management included 11,800 total (non-referred and referred) admissions that were observed. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test for trend. PPH was diagnosed in 3.7% with no significant trend but diagnosis of hypertensive disorders increased from 1.0% to 1.7%, (ptrend = 0.04), over the 6 months. BA was diagnosed in 5.8% with no significant trend but LBW diagnoses increased from 11% to 16% (ptrend<0.01). Among PPH patients, 96% received fluids, 85% received uterotonics and 11% received Tranexamic Acid (TXA). There was a significant positive trend in the number of patients receiving TXA for PPH (6% to 13.8%, ptrend = 0.03). Of all neonates with BA, there were statistically significant increases in the proportion who were initially warmed, dried, and stimulated (78% to 94%, ptrend = 0.02), received airway suction (80% to 93%, ptrend = 0.03), and supplemental oxygen without positive pressure ventilation (73% to 86%, ptrend = 0.05). Diagnoses of hypertensive disorders and LBW as well as initial management of BA increased during the AMANAT program. However, underdiagnoses of PPH and hypertensive disorders relative to population levels remain critical barriers to improving maternal morbidity and mortality.

Public health triangulation: approach and application to synthesizing data to understand national and local HIV epidemics.

BACKGROUND: Public health triangulation is a process for reviewing, synthesising and interpreting secondary data from multiple sources that bear on the same question to make public health decisions. It can be used to understand the dynamics of HIV transmission and to measure the impact of public health programs. While traditional intervention research and meta-analysis would be ideal sources of information for public health decision making, they are infrequently available, and often decisions can be based only on surveillance and survey data. METHODS: The process involves examination of a wide variety of data sources and both biological, behavioral and program data and seeks input from stakeholders to formulate meaningful public health questions. Finally and most importantly, it uses the results to inform public health decision-making. There are 12 discrete steps in the triangulation process, which included identification and assessment of key questions, identification of data sources, refining questions, gathering data and reports, assessing the quality of those data and reports, formulating hypotheses to explain trends in the data, corroborating or refining working hypotheses, drawing conclusions, communicating results and recommendations and taking public health action. RESULTS: Triangulation can be limited by the quality of the original data, the potentials for ecological fallacy and "data dredging" and reproducibility of results. CONCLUSIONS: Nonetheless, we believe that public health triangulation allows for the interpretation of data sets that cannot be analyzed using meta-analysis and can be a helpful adjunct to surveillance, to formal public health intervention research and to monitoring and evaluation, which in turn lead to improved national strategic planning and resource allocation.

Simulation and team training embedded nurse mentoring programme and improvement in intrapartum and newborn care in a low-resource setting in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: Improvement of the quality of maternal and child health care remains a focus in India. Working with the Government of Bihar, CARE-India facilitated a comprehensive set of quality of care improvement initiatives. PRONTO's simulation and team-training was incorporated into the large-scale Apatkaleen Matritva evam Navjat Tatparta (AMANAT)nurse-mentoring program of the Government of Bihar supported by CARE-India to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Along-with the AMANAT program, the PRONTO components provided training on nontechnical and technical competencies for managing a variety of obstetric and neonatal conditions, as a team. This study assessed the effectiveness of nurse-mentoring including simulations on intrapartum and newborn care practices in 320 basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care (BEmONC) facilities. METHODS: Deliveries were observed to obtain specific information on evidence-based practice (EBP) indicators before and after the intervention. Intrapartum and newborn care composite scores - were calculated using those EBP indicators. A web-based routine monitoring system provided total training days, weeks and days/week of training and counts of simulation and teamwork-communication activities. Multilevel linear regression was used to examine the exposure-outcome associations. RESULTS: The final analysis included 668 normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries (NSVDs) from 289 public health facilities in Bihar. Facility-level intrapartum and newborn scores improved by 37 and 26-percentage points, respectively, from baseline to endline. Compared to the bottom one-third facilities that performed fewest NSVD simulations, the top one-third had 6 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1-12) percentage points higher intrapartum score. Similar comparison using maternal complication simulations yielded 7 (95% CI = 1-12) percentage point higher scores. The highest newborn scores were observed in the middle one-third of facilities relative to the bottom one-third that did the fewest NSVD simulations (5, 95% CI: 1-10). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest significant overall improvement in intrapartum and newborn care practices after the AMANAT nurse-mentoring program in public sector BEmONC facilities. Simulation and team-training likely contributed towards the overall improvement, especially for intrapartum care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02726230.

Cohort study of neonatal resuscitation skill retention in frontline healthcare facilities in Bihar, India, after PRONTO simulation training.

BACKGROUND: Use of simulation in neonatal resuscitation (NR) training programmes has increased throughout low-income and middle-income countries. Many of such programmes have demonstrated a positive impact on NR knowledge and skill acquisition along with reduction of early neonatal mortality and fresh stillbirth rates. However, NR skill retention after simulation programmes remains a challenge. METHODS: This study assessed facility level NR skill retention after PRONTO International's simulation training in Bihar, India. Training was conducted within CARE India's statewide in-job, on-site Apatkaleen Matritva evam Navjat Tatparta mentoring programme as part of a larger quality improvement and health systems strengthening initiative. Public sector facilities were initially offered training, facilitated by trained nursing graduates, during 8-month phases between September 2015 and January 2017. Repeat training began in February 2018 and was facilitated by peers. NR skills in simulated resuscitations were assessed at the facility level at the midpoint and endpoint of initial training and prior to and at the midpoint of repeat training. RESULTS: Facilities administering effective positive pressure ventilation and assessing infant heart rate increased (31.1% and 13.1%, respectively, both p=0.03) from midinitial to postinitial training (n=64 primary health centres (PHCs) and 192 simulations). This was followed by a 26.2% and 20.9% decline in these skills respectively over the training gap (p≤0.01). A significant increase (16.1%, p=0.04) in heart rate assessment was observed by the midpoint of repeat training with peer facilitators (n=45 PHCs and 90 simulations). No significant change was observed in other skills assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite initial improvement in select NR skills, deterioration was observed at a facility-level post-training. Given the technical nature of NR skills and the departure these skills represent from traditional practices in Bihar, refresher trainings at shorter intervals are likely necessary. Very limited evidence suggests peer simulation facilitators may enable such increased training frequency, but further study is required.

Diagnosis and management of postpartum hemorrhage and intrapartum asphyxia in a quality improvement initiative using nurse-mentoring and simulation in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: In the state of Bihar, India a multi-faceted quality improvement nurse-mentoring program was implemented to improve provider skills in normal and complicated deliveries. The objective of this analysis was to examine changes in diagnosis and management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) of the mother and intrapartum asphyxia of the infant in primary care facilities in Bihar, during the program. METHODS: During the program, mentor pairs visited each facility for one week, covering four facilities over a four-week period and returned for subsequent week-long visits once every month for seven to nine consecutive months. Between- and within-facility comparisons were made using a quasi-experimental and a longitudinal design over time, respectively, to measure change due to the intervention. The proportions of PPH and intrapartum asphyxia among all births as well as the proportions of PPH and intrapartum asphyxia cases that were effectively managed were examined. Zero-inflated negative binomial models and marginal structural methodology were used to assess change in diagnosis and management of complications after accounting for clustering of deliveries within facilities as well as time varying confounding. RESULTS: This analysis included 55,938 deliveries from 320 facilities. About 2% of all deliveries, were complicated with PPH and 3% with intrapartum asphyxia. Between-facility comparisons across phases demonstrated diagnosis was always higher in the final week of intervention (PPH: 2.5-5.4%, intrapartum asphyxia: 4.2-5.6%) relative to the first week (PPH: 1.2-2.1%, intrapartum asphyxia: 0.7-3.3%). Within-facility comparisons showed PPH diagnosis increased from week 1 through 5 (from 1.6% to 4.4%), after which it decreased through week 7 (3.1%). A similar trend was observed for intrapartum asphyxia. For both outcomes, the proportion of diagnosed cases where selected evidence-based practices were used for management either remained stable or increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: The nurse-mentoring program appears to have built providers' capacity to identify PPH and intrapartum asphyxia cases but diagnosis levels are still not on par with levels observed in Southeast Asia and globally.

Clinical cascades as a novel way to assess physical readiness of facilities for the care of small and sick neonates in Kenya and Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Globally, there were 2.7 million neonatal deaths in 2015. Significant mortality reduction could be achieved by improving care in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where the majority of deaths occur. Determining the physical readiness of facilities to identify and manage complications is an essential component of strategies to reduce neonatal mortality. METHODS: We developed clinical cascades for 6 common neonatal conditions then utilized these to assess 23 health facilities in Kenya and Uganda at 2 time-points in 2016 and 2017. We calculated changes in resource availability over time by facility using McNemar's test. We estimated mean readiness and loss of readiness for the 6 conditions and 3 stages of care (identification, treatment, monitoring-modifying treatment). We estimated overall mean readiness and readiness loss across all conditions and stages. Finally, we compared readiness of facilities with a newborn special care unit (NSCU) to those without using the two-sample test of proportions. RESULTS: The cascade model estimated mean readiness of 26.3-26.6% across the 3 stages for all conditions. Mean readiness ranged from 11.6% (respiratory distress-apnea) to 47.8% (essential newborn care) across both time-points. The model estimated overall mean readiness loss of 30.4-31.9%. There was mild to moderate variability in the timing of readiness loss, with the majority occurring in the identification stage. Overall mean readiness was higher among facilities with a NSCU (36.8%) compared to those without (20.0%). CONCLUSION: The cascade model provides a novel approach to quantitatively assess physical readiness for neonatal care. Among 23 facilities in Kenya and Uganda, we identified a consistent pattern of 30-32% readiness loss across cascades and stages. This aggregate measure could be used to monitor and compare readiness at the facility-, health system-, or national-level. Estimates of readiness and loss of readiness may help guide strategies to improve care, prioritize resources, and promote neonatal survival in LMICs.

Video Monitoring a Simulation-Based Quality Improvement Program in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training has become an accepted clinical training andragogy in high-resource settings with its use increasing in low-resource settings. Video recordings of simulated scenarios are commonly used by facilitators. Beyond using the videos during debrief sessions, researchers can also analyze the simulation videos to quantify technical and nontechnical skills during simulated scenarios over time. Little is known about the feasibility and use of large-scale systems to video record and analyze simulation and debriefing data for monitoring and evaluation in low-resource settings. METHODS: This manuscript describes the process of designing and implementing a large-scale video monitoring system. Mentees and Mentors were consented and all simulations and debriefs conducted at 320 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) were video recorded. The system design, number of video recordings, and inter-rater reliability of the coded videos were assessed. RESULTS: The final dataset included a total of 11,278 videos. Overall, a total of 2,124 simulation videos were coded and 183 (12%) were blindly double-coded. For the double-coded sample, the average inter-rater reliability (IRR) scores were 80% for nontechnical skills, and 94% for clinical technical skills. Among 4,450 long debrief videos received, 216 were selected for coding and all were double-coded. Data quality of simulation videos was found to be very good in terms of recorded instances of "unable to see" and "unable to hear" in Phases 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that video monitoring systems can be effectively implemented at scale in resource limited settings. Further, video monitoring systems can play several vital roles within program implementation, including monitoring and evaluation, provision of actionable feedback to program implementers, and assurance of program fidelity.

Tracking and debriefing birth data at scale: A mobile phone application to improve obstetric and neonatal care in Bihar, India.

AIM: This analysis assessed changes over time in skill and knowledge related to the use of evidence-based practices associated with quality of maternal and neonatal care during a nurse midwife mentoring intervention at primary health clinics (PHCs) in Bihar, India. DESIGN: Nurse midwife mentors (NMMs) entered live birth observation data into a mobile App from 320 PHCs. METHODS: The NMMs completed prompted questions in the App after every live birth witnessed. The App consisted of questions around three main themes, "What went well?", "What needed improvement?" and "What can be done differently next time?". RESULTS: Observational data from 5,799 births was recorded by 120 NMMs in 320 PHCs. Knowledge and skill during normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries and complicated deliveries with either a postpartum haemorrhage or non-vigorous infant all showed statistically significant improvement (p < .001) over time using a Chi-squared test for trend with a mean increase of 41% across all indicators.

Building Capacity for Data-Driven Decision Making in African HIV Testing Programs: Field Perspectives on Data Use Workshops.

Strategic, high quality HIV testing services (HTS) delivery is an essential step towards reaching the end of AIDS by 2030. We conducted HTS Data Use workshops in five African countries to increase data use for strategic program decision-making. Feedback was collected on the extent to which workshop skills and tools were applied in practice and to identify future capacity-building needs. We later conducted six semistructured phone interviews with workshop planning teams and sent a web-based survey to 92 past participants. The HTS Data Use workshops provided accessible tools that were readily learned by most respondents. While most respondents reported increased confidence in interpreting data and frequency of using such tools over time, planning team representatives indicated ongoing needs for more automated tools that can function across data systems. To achieve ambitious global HIV/AIDS targets, national decision makers may continue to seek tools and skill-building opportunities to monitor programs and identify opportunities to refine strategies.

Slowing of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine: evidence from case reporting and key population surveys, 2005-2012.

BACKGROUND: Ukraine developed Europe's most severe HIV epidemic due to widespread transmission among persons who inject drugs (PWID). Since 2004, prevention has focused on key populations; antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage has increased. Recent data show increases in reported HIV cases through 2011, especially attributed to sexual transmission, but also signs of potential epidemic slowing. We conducted a data triangulation exercise to better analyze available data and inform program implementation. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We reviewed data for 2005 to 2012 from multiple sources, primarily national HIV case reporting and integrated biobehavioral surveillance (IBBS) studies among key populations. Annually reported HIV cases increased at a progressively slower rate through 2011 with recent increases only among older, more immunosuppressed individuals; cases decreased 2.7% in 2012. Among women <25 years of age, cases attributed to heterosexual transmission and HIV prevalence in antenatal screening declined after 2008. Reported cases among young PWID declined by three-fourths. In 2011, integrated biobehavioral surveillance demonstrated decreased HIV prevalence among young members of key populations compared with 2009. HIV infection among female sex workers (FSW) remains strongly associated with a personal history of injecting drug use (IDU). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that Ukraine's HIV epidemic has slowed, with decreasing reported cases and older cases predominating among those diagnosed. Recent decreases in cases and in prevalence support decreased incidence among young PWID and women. Trends among heterosexual men and men who have sex with men (MSM) are less clear; further study and enhanced MSM prevention are needed. FSW appear to have stable prevalence with risk strongly associated with IDU. Current trends suggest the Ukrainian epidemic can be contained with enhanced prevention among key populations and increased treatment access.