Teaching Neonatal Resuscitation – An
International Link
KEENAN, W.J., and ALDEN, E.
Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Perinatal asphyxia has been
estimated by WHO to account for over one million neonatal deaths per year. Even in facilities with excellent
maternity services ten percent of all newly born infants will require some
element of neonatal resuscitation.
All maternal and pediatric providers require skills in neonatal
resuscitation but the attainment and maintenance of skills in newborn
resuscitation are problematic.
A formulized curriculum in neonatal resuscitation (NRP) has been
available since 1987.
Approximately 1.15 million providers have been trained in the United
States from 1987 through 2000.
NRP materials have been formally translated into fourteen languages
and regular programs of instruction have been developed in at least 42
countries.
The NRP has been an appealing
basis for the formation of more inclusive programs of child health instruction
in many of the 42 countries that have adopted an NRP format. Other important issues can be
addressed within the instructional system that develops to teach neonatal
resuscitation. Generally both
physicians and non-physician providers participate. Successful programs have local
leadership and a core group of teachers to ensure that instruction can be
available on an ongoing basis.
The program is inexpensive,
easily modified to fit local practice and resources. The practical elements of this program,
including hands on instruction, appear to meet learning needs of a wide
variety of providers of neonatal care. The hands on instruction tends to bridge potential gaps
between providers with a variety of educational preparation and
professional background.
Since 1987 the NRP has been
modified several times to incorporate developments in the science of
resuscitation and the practical knowledge developed by pediatric leadership
in countries throughout the world.
Recent experiences with NRP instruction in Asian countries will be
highlighted.