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Background: Neonatal mortality remains a public health concern in developing countries such as Uganda. Three-quarters of all newborn deaths occur in the first week of life, with 50% occurring during the first 24-hours. The World Health Organization developed essential newborn care measures to improve neonatal outcomes.This study aimed at determining maternal knowledge attitude and practices towards essential newborn care in Mbale district, Eastern Uganda.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional survey employing quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted at selected health facilities in Mbale district. 366 postnatal mothers were interviewed using a structured pretested and validated questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed using closed-ended questions; a score of ‘one’ was allocated for ‘correct knowledge’ and ‘zero’ for ‘incorrect knowledge’. The attitude was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Practices were evaluated through open-ended questions and by 15 in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14.0 and Nvivo version 11.0Results: The majority, 341(93.2%) of the mothers, knew the signs of eye infection. All the mothers, 366(100%) knew about thermal care. The majority of the mothers, 315(86.1%) didn’t know the disease prevented by the BCG vaccine. Most 260(71.4%) didn’t know the dangers of leaving an umbilical stump wet. Most mothers, 332(91.0%) agreed that skin-to-skin contact should be ensured and warm clothing be provided to the neonate. The majority 352(96.2%) of the mothers practiced skin-to-skin contact as a thermal protective measure. A few mothers, 65(17.8%) did not bathe their babies within 24 hours of birth. Poor cord care practices like the use of gecko droppings were still in existence in the community. Mothers practised and described exclusive breastfeeding as cheap and affordable with all food values.Conclusion: There was good knowledge and positive attitude towards WHO essential newborn care but knowledge on some aspects of cord care and immunization was still lacking. Postnatal mothers demonstrated unsatisfactory practices towards essential newborn care. There is a need to educate mothers during antenatal visits, postnatal clinics, and Young Child Clinic to improve their knowledge on immunization and cord care and practice essential newborn care measures.

Background: Global health activities reduce health disparities by promoting medical education, professional development, and resource sharing between high- and low- to middle-income countries. Virtual global health activities facilitated continuity and bidirectionality in global health during the COVID-19 pandemic, but while virtual engagement holds potential for promoting equity within partnerships, research on equitable access to and interest in virtual global health activities is limited.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, online, mixed-methods survey from January to February 2022 examining access to virtual activities before and during the pandemic across resource settings. Eligible participants were participants or facilitators of global health activities. Closed- and open-ended questions elicited participants’ access to and interest in virtual global health engagement.Results: We analyzed surveys from 265 respondents representing 45 countries (high-income 57.0% vs. low- to middle-income 43.0%). High-income country respondents had significantly more access to global health funding through their own organization and more flexibility for using funds. More respondents from low- to middle-income countries versus high-income countries reported loss of more types of in-person access due to the pandemic at their own institutions, while more respondents from high-income countries versus low- to middle-income countries reported loss of in-person activities at another institution. While all respondents reported an increase in access to virtual global health activities during the pandemic, more respondents from low- to middle-income countries versus high-income countries gained virtual access more often through another organization. There were significant differences and trends between respondent groups in different resource environments in terms of accessibility to and interest in different virtual global health activities, both during and after the pandemic. Qualitative results are presented in another manuscript.Conclusions: Our results highlight the need to examine accessibility to virtual global health activities within partnerships between high- and low- to middle-income countries. While virtual activities may bridge existing gaps in global health education and partnerships, further study on priorities and agenda setting for such initiatives, with special attention to power dynamics and structural barriers, are necessary to ensure meaningful virtual global health engagement moving forward.

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