Qualitative Insights Into Enhancing Neonatal Resuscitation in Post-Pandemic Vietnam: A Stakeholder Perspective on the Helping Babies Breathe Program.

Background: The neonatal phase is vital for child survival, with a substantial portion of deaths occurring in the first month. Neonatal mortality rates differ significantly between Vietnam (10.52/1000 live births) and the United States (3.27/1000). In response to these challenges, interventions such as the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program have emerged, aiming to enhance the quality of care provided during childbirth, and the postpartum period in low-resource settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore stakeholder perceptions of the HBB program in Vietnam postpandemic, aiming to identify requisites for resuming training.

Methods: Utilizing qualitative content analysis, 19 in-person semistructured interviews were conducted with diverse stakeholders in 2 provinces of Central Vietnam.

Results: The content analysis revealed following 5 main themes: (1) the pandemic's impact on HBB training; (2) resource needs for scaling up HBB training as the pandemic abates; (3) participants' perceptions of the pandemic's effect on HBB skills and knowledge; (4) the pandemic's influence on a skilled neonatal resuscitation workforce; and (5) future prospects and challenges for HBB training in a postpandemic era.

Implications for practice and research: This research highlights the importance of sustainable post-HBB training competencies, including skill assessment, innovative knowledge retention strategies, community-based initiatives, and evidence-based interventions for improved healthcare decision-making and patient outcomes. Healthcare institutions should prioritize skill assessments, refresher training, and collaborative efforts among hospitals, authorities, non-government organizations, and community organizations for evidence-based education and HBB implementation.