Alternative Public Health Interventions to Prevent Neonatal Deaths in Developing Countries: A Comparative Study

Abstract

A number of evaluations of health education interventions in developing countries for the reduction of neonatal mortality have been reported. These interventions can be divided into two categories: those which include medical professionals and those without medical professionals. No systematic review has yet been performed that compares these two types of interventions. This study is an attempt to determine whether the inclusion of medical professionals in health education interventions more greatly decreases neonatal mortality in developing countries. Databases were searched for impact evaluation studies which: 1) had both experimental and control groups, 2) conducted both pre-tests and post-tests, 3) identified the intervention as a health education package, 4) were published in peer reviewed journals, 5) used neonatal mortality as an outcome measure, and 6) were undertaken in developing countries. A total 14 studies were found that fit these criteria-eight of these studies included medical professionals in the intervention, and six studies were without medical professionals. To calculate the net effect of each intervention, both the difference-in-difference method and the use of log odds ratios were tested. Interventions involving medical professionals had significantly lower neonatal mortality rates than those without medical professionals. Interventions meant to decrease neonatal mortality in developing countries are recommended to involve medical professionals.