Challenges Faced by Healthcare Professionals in Screening Newborns for Congenital Heart Defects in Pakistan.

ABSTRACT: Early and timely screening for congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the key challenges for healthcare professionals (HPs). This study aimed to identify barriers to the screening of CHD among healthcare professionals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted among HPs working in public and private hospitals, and data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 10.0 software until saturation following Braun and Clarke's framework. Data were reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). Participants reported critical gaps in CHD screening, including scarce resources such as a lack of pulse oximeters and echocardiography machines, inadequate training, and overburdened staff struggling with high patient volumes. Emotional

SUBMITTER: Haq IU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12551085 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature