ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Planned caesarean section (CS) is a risk factor for neonatal respiratory distress caused by a greater volume of airway liquid in the absence of uterine contractions.Performing a newly conceptualised knee-to-chest flexion (KCF) manoeuvre at birth, mimicking uterine contraction-induced flexion may aid in expelling excess lung liquid. OBJECTIVES: To test whether performing a KCF manoeuvre at birth is feasible in infants born after planned CS and to test whether KCF leads to visible expulsion of lung liquid. METHODS: Single-centre prospective interventional study in term infants born by planned CS at Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands. KCF was performed for a maximum of 45 s. Baseline characteristics were collected, primary outcome was ability to perform KCF and secondary outcome was any visible expulsion of fluid. RESULTS: In 39 infants (mean (SD) gestational age 38.0 (0.7) weeks, birth weight 3537 (440) g), KCF could be performed in 21/39 (54%), whereas 18/39 (46.2%) starting vigorous breathing before KCF could be performed. Notably, visible lung liquid expulsion occurred in 9/21 (43%) infants. KCF duration averaged 29 (18) s. In 13/21 (62 %), KCF was not performed as per standard operating procedure. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to perform KCF at birth in a large proportion of term infants born by planned CS, with visible expulsion of liquid in a significant proportion of these infants. Training healthcare providers to perform a standardised KCF could increase feasibility and success. Further studies are needed to assess feasibility and effectiveness of KCF. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NL74285.058.20.
ABSTRACT
Prevention of exposure to the COVID-19 virus in the general population is an essential strategy to slow community transmission. This paper shares the experiences and challenges of community engagement in COVID-19 prevention in the Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania implemented by our team from the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) in collaboration with the COVID-19 response team in the Moshi Municipality. We conducted an education session with the COVID-19 response team and together brainstormed transmission hotspots and which interventions would be most feasible in their settings. The first hotspot identified was crowded local market spaces. Suggested interventions included targeted and mass public health education through the engagement of market opinion leaders, public announcements, and radio shows. We conducted participatory rural appraisal techniques to enable market vendors and clients to visualize two-meter distances and provided a prototype hand-washing facility that was foot operated. We found mass public health educational campaigns essential to inform and update the public about COVID-19 pandemic and to address rumors and misinformation, which hampers compliance with public health interventions. Coordinated efforts among stakeholders in the country are necessary to develop context-specific prevention and case management strategies following the national and international guidelines. Local ownership of recommended interventions is necessary to ensure compliance.
