Stop Sepsis: Identification of Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Interventions to Prevent Neonatal Sepsis in Two Hospitals in Amhara, Ethiopia Open Access

Geith, Kelly (Spring 2021)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/41687j82x?locale=en
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Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is a serious issue with an estimated 3 million cases occurring annually across the globe. This burden is mainly in low- and middle-income countries and is partially attributable to unsanitary healthcare facilities and unhygienic caretaking practices. A previous study conducted in two hospitals in Amhara, Ethiopia found a 20% prevalence of neonatal sepsis among infants born at these two facilities and high levels of microbial contamination in the environment surrounding the newborns. The purpose of this project was to identify and develop evidence-based intervention recommendations for these two hospitals to reduce rates of neonatal sepsis and mortality. First, results of the previous study were presented to hospital staff and other stakeholders, including regional health authorities. Their written and verbal feedback and ideas for interventions were collected during a brainstorming session after the presentation. Then, a literature review was conducted to identify interventions which target areas of concern revealed by the previous study, and interventions which were successful in similar low-resource settings. Stakeholder feedback and evidence from the literature search were used to develop intervention recommendations for the two study hospitals. The interventions target six key areas: hand hygiene practice, hand hygiene infrastructure, hand hygiene for mothers and caregivers, waste management, environmental cleaning, and hospital management/leadership. These recommendations will be presented to hospital staff and other stakeholders and used to co-develop a quality improvement program to be implemented in these two hospitals.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………..………………..1

Chapter 2: Literature Review……………………………………………………..…………...….8

Chapter 3: Project Aims and Rationale……………………………………………...………..20

Chapter 4: Intervention Recommendations for Hospitals…………………………........22

Chapter 5: Discussion…………………………………………..………………………………...38

References………………………………………………………………………………………......42

Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………....…50

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