Neonatal care across the continuum: improving newborn care quality to reduce neonatal mortality in Ghana
Neonatal care across the continuum: improving newborn care quality to reduce neonatal mortality in Ghana
Ghana has made progress in reducing neonatal mortality over the past decades. However, the quality of newborn care remains an important challenge. This thesis of Solomon Salia therefore examined the quality of newborn care in Ghana, focusing on healthcare professionals’ adherence to quality standards, mothers’ experiences of care, and the care of newborns at home after hospital discharge.
The research is relevant because quality care during and after hospitalization is essential for newborn survival and well-being and for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.2. The thesis was guided by the World Health Organization (WHO) quality-of-care framework and combined observations of healthcare professionals with research on mothers’ experiences.
The findings showed varying levels of adherence to quality standards. Although many healthcare professionals demonstrated good neonatal resuscitation practices, important gaps were identified in infection prevention, essential newborn care, and respectful care. Staff shortages, inadequate equipment and supplies, and high workloads also affected the quality of care. Mothers’ experiences were largely shaped by these health-system challenges. After discharge, their ability to follow recommended newborn care practices was influenced by family members, cultural norms, others’ experiences, and limited follow-up by healthcare professionals.
The thesis demonstrates that quality newborn care does not end at hospital discharge. It highlights the importance of continuity of care between health facilities and the home and extends the WHO framework by explicitly recognising the provision of care at home as an integral component of quality newborn care.