TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of the Newhints home-visits intervention on neonatal mortality rate and care practices in Ghana
T2 - A cluster randomised controlled trial
AU - Kirkwood, Betty R.
AU - Manu, Alexander
AU - Ten Asbroek, Augustinus H.A.
AU - Soremekun, Seyi
AU - Weobong, Benedict
AU - Gyan, Thomas
AU - Danso, Samuel
AU - Amenga-Etego, Seeba
AU - Tawiah-Agyemang, Charlotte
AU - Owusu-Agyei, Seth
AU - Hill, Zelee
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background In 2009, on the basis of promising evidence from trials in south Asia, WHO and UNICEF issued a joint statement about home visits as a strategy to improve newborn survival. In the Newhints trial, we aimed to test this home-visits strategy in sub-Saharan Africa by assessing the Effect on all-cause neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and essential newborn-care practices. Methods The Newhints cluster randomised trial was undertaken in 98 zones in seven districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. 49 zones were randomly assigned to the Newhints intervention and 49 to the control intervention by use of restricted randomisation with stratifi cation to ensure comparability between interventions. Community-based surveillance volunteers (CBSVs) in Newhints zones were trained to identify pregnant women in their community and to make two home visits during pregnancy and three in the fi rst week of life to promote essential newborn-care practices, weigh and assess babies for danger signs, and refer as necessary. Primary outcomes were NMR and coverage of key essential newborn-care practices. Analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00623337.
AB - Background In 2009, on the basis of promising evidence from trials in south Asia, WHO and UNICEF issued a joint statement about home visits as a strategy to improve newborn survival. In the Newhints trial, we aimed to test this home-visits strategy in sub-Saharan Africa by assessing the Effect on all-cause neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and essential newborn-care practices. Methods The Newhints cluster randomised trial was undertaken in 98 zones in seven districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. 49 zones were randomly assigned to the Newhints intervention and 49 to the control intervention by use of restricted randomisation with stratifi cation to ensure comparability between interventions. Community-based surveillance volunteers (CBSVs) in Newhints zones were trained to identify pregnant women in their community and to make two home visits during pregnancy and three in the fi rst week of life to promote essential newborn-care practices, weigh and assess babies for danger signs, and refer as necessary. Primary outcomes were NMR and coverage of key essential newborn-care practices. Analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00623337.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879237606&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60095-1
DO - 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60095-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 23578528
AN - SCOPUS:84879237606
SN - 0140-6736
VL - 381
SP - 2184
EP - 2192
JO - The Lancet
JF - The Lancet
IS - 9884
ER -