Community Health Worker-Led Household Screening and Management of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Rural Bangladesh: A Cluster Randomized Control Trial Protocol
Abstract
Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like Bangladesh, many newborns with hyperbilirubinemia do not receive timely treatment, resulting in a significant impact on neurologic health and mortality. This trial aims to assess the effectiveness of using community health workers (CHWs) to provide household screening and treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, compared to the existing care system in Bangladesh.
Methods: A total of 530 Bangladeshi women in the Sakhipur community will be enrolled in a cluster randomized trial. Participants will be assigned to either the intervention arm, where CHWs will provide home screening and treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, or the comparison arm to receive usual care. CHWs will conduct prenatal visits, visit newborns, measure transcutaneous bilirubin, and provide phototherapy treatment at home when needed. The treatment rates in each arm will be compared.
Conclusion: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CHW-led home phototherapy to increase neonatal hyperbilirubinemia treatment rates in rural Bangladesh. The findings may provide valuable insights for expanding access to postnatal care using CHWs, offering a curative treatment option for newborns with hyperbilirubinemia in LMICs. Similar initiatives in other LMICs can enhance healthcare accessibility for vulnerable newborns.
Publisher Provided Full Text
PMID:39015822 | PMC:PMC11249711 | DOI:10.12688/gatesopenres.14033.2
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