Improving the delivery room setting in developing countries: the opinion of local health caregivers

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal mortality has remained steady or increased in many developing countries. A pragmatic approach to the organization of the delivery room setting, where a large part of neonatal deaths occurs, could detect the priorities for potential ameliorative interventions. We evaluated the local health caregivers' opinions regarding the priority areas for improving the hospital delivery room setting in developing countries. METHODS: Twenty-eight participants to a World Health Organization (WHO) workshop were asked to fill out an anonymous, written questionnaire regarding the priorities that could significantly improve their hospital delivery room setting. RESULTS: The three most important interventions for improving the delivery room setting were classified as following: education of all staff in newborn care (28%), optimize doctor-nurse/patient ratio (15%), equipment (14%), maternal-antenatal care (13%), role and responsibilities (8%), salary (8%), neonatal intensive care unit facilities (6%), availability of a specialized team for neonatal resuscitation (5%) and improve the building (3%). CONCLUSION: Education of health staff in newborn care, personnel organization and equipment availability are valued as high priorities by local health caregivers for improving the delivery room setting in developing countries. The opinion of operators involved in maternal and neonatal health may contribute to better design interventions in setting with limited resources.