Newborn screening and referral for congenital anomalies by lay health workers in Pakistan: a mixed-methods study to evaluate the effectiveness of a co-created educational intervention.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Globally, 8 million babies are born with a congenital anomaly annually causing 240,000 neonatal deaths, with 95% disease burden in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Early neonatal screening, timely referral and management can lead to reduced disability and mortality. The WHO recommends employing lay health workers (HWs) as agents to promote health due to critical shortage of health service providers worldwide. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a learner-centered educational intervention to train lay HWs to screen neonates for external congenital anomalies and to refer affected families towards care.

Methods

The CARe (Congenital Anomalies Registry) educational intervention was designed for lay HWs, with a two-week classroom component followed b

SUBMITTER: Junejo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12729093 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature