Midwives as first responders: intervention outcomes for neonatal resuscitation in secondary health facilities, Oyo State, Nigeria

Neonatal resuscitation is a critical skill for midwives, especially in secondary health facilities where the prevalence of asphyxiated newborns remains high. This study aimed to assess and enhance midwives' basic neonatal resuscitation skills through an intervention in secondary health facilities in Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 22 midwives from 11 secondary health facilities were included in this intervention study. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit respondents. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to evaluate the participants' skills in neonatal resuscitation using a checklist. Data were analyzed to compare the pre-and post-intervention skill levels using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (Paired t -test) was used to test the hypotheses at .05 significance level. The study found that 50 % of participants were aged 41 years and above. Pre-intervention results showed that 86.4 % of midwives had below-average knowledge of neonatal resuscitation. After the intervention, 90.9 % demonstrated above-average skills. There was a significant difference between pre and post-intervention skills of neonatal resuscitation (P = 0.000). The study demonstrates that targeted training can effectively enhance the neonatal resuscitation skills of midwives in secondary health facilities. Continuous professional development and tailored training frameworks are essential for improving the quality of neonatal care and reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality.