Developing a Program Logic for Neonatal Incubator Use in Vietnam

Tóm tắt

Vietnam has made progress in reducing under-five mortality rate and is on track to meet its fourth Millennium Development Goals. However, the rate of neonatal deaths remains unacceptably high. A critical driver of neonatal mortality is premature birth. In high-income economies, neonatal incubators are a key element of premature newborn care; however, there is limited evidence supporting their use in resource-poor settings. Evaluation is a key process in maximizing the strategic allocation of resources in such settings and one way to construct an evidence base. This research develops a program logic to guide program implementation and an evaluation of incubator use in Vietnam. Key features of program delivery include incorporating community-accepted design elements, facilitating staff training and incubator maintenance needs.