Co-design of the Implementation Toolkit for Small and Sick Newborn Care: a global open-access knowledge management web platform and linked community targeting the know–do gap

BACKGROUND: Most births worldwide (> 80%) occur in health care facilities, yet 2.3 million newborns die annually. If the know-do gap between evidence and implementation was closed, an estimated 752,000 newborn deaths could be prevented per year. We describe the co-design of the Implementation Toolkit (Newborn Toolkit) for Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC), a web platform and linked community of global implementers, facilitated by NEST360 and UNICEF to enable access to curated resources, including guidelines, practical tools and peer learning for contextual adaptation. METHODS: A systematic three step co-design process was followed. Step 1) Structure: We used an organising framework of WHO and UNICEF ten core components for systems strengthening for SSNC. We then reviewed relevant knowledge management platforms to identify elements facilitating user engagement. Step 2) Content: > 300 implementers collated publications and tools according to the ten core components. Step 3) Refining and building community: User data analytics plus direct feedback from the global communities of practice provided data to improve website content and community uptake, notably regular webinars. RESULTS: Step 1) Structure: In 2020, the Newborn Toolkit website structure was co-designed based on the ten core components. Step 2) Content: Working groups, organised by core components, collated over 1,100 resources in 15 languages. Step 3) Refining and building community: Cross-country learning was facilitated through 45 webinars with multi-disciplinary speakers from all continents including caregivers, clinicians, non-governmental organisation representatives, engineers, and data scientists. French language translation and engagement was added between 2023-2025. Unique user counts increased with 28,146 in 2023 to 62,561 in 2025 from 198 countries and territories. The most viewed content includes WHO guidelines, neonatal floor plans, the ABC device costing tool, and data tools. CONCLUSIONS: Given the urgency for accelerated progress for newborn survival by 2030, faster implementation of proven solutions is needed. It is crucial that implementers can access evidence and tools to adapt for their specific context, rather than "reinventing the wheel". Systems change is complex, requiring novel approaches to make it doable, such as standard, simplified action pathways available on the Newborn Toolkit. Gaps to address include evidence availability in multiple languages.

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Journal
BMC Pediatrics
Published
2026-08-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07420-2
Primary Topic
Global Maternal and Child Health
Type
article
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0.00

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article

Co-design of the Implementation Toolkit for Small and Sick Newborn Care: a global open-access knowledge management web platform and linked community targeting the know–do gap

Ornella Lincetto, Fatima Gohar, Samantha Sadoo, Silke Mader et al.
BMC Pediatrics
Global Maternal and Child Health
article

Co-design of the Implementation Toolkit for Small and Sick Newborn Care: a global open-access knowledge management web platform and linked community targeting the know–do gap

Ornella Lincetto, Fatima Gohar, Samantha Sadoo, Silke Mader, Goldy Mazia, Rebecca E. Penzias, Ifeanyichukwu Anthony Ogueji, David Gathara, Megan Heenan, Jaya Chandna, Naomi Spotswood, Ryan Johnston, Georgina Msemo, Christine A. Bohne, E Molyneux, Rosie Steege, Nahya Salim Masoud, Sara Liaghati-Mobarhan, Timothy Powell‐Jackson, Aeesha NJ Malik, Louise T. Day, Opeyemi Odedere, Evelyn Zimba, Tedbabe Degefie Hailegebriel, Lauren H. Allison, Grace Tahuna Soko, Anita Gibson, Neena Khadka, Ruth Davidge, Robyn Churchill, Eric O. Ohuma, Ephraim Kumi Senkyire, James Cross, Alison Morgan, Laura Fitzgerald, John Wainaina, Suzanne Stalls, Richard Kagimu, Harriet Ruysen, Caroline Kinsella, Olive Cocoman, George Banda, Olabisi Dosunmu, Josephat Mutakyamilwa, Padraic Casserly, Merran Thomson, Prarthna Dayal, Maria Odén, Taylor Boles, Nahya Salim, Irabi Kassim, Prateek Gupta, Hema Magge, Mbozu Sipalo, Patricia Coffey, Alex Stevenson, Massimo Salvadori, Federica Cassera, Zoe Griffiths, Tobias Whatley, Ralph Hale, Karen Walker, Karim Manji, Loveday Penn-Kekana, Kiersten Israel-Ballard, Olufunke Bolaji, Hamish R. Graham, Donat Shamba, Gagan Gupta, Geoffrey Manda, Kondwani Kawaza, Charles Osuagwu, Msandeni Chiume, Edith Gicheha, Elizabeth Ngowi, Josephine Shabani, Shanon McNab, Meghan Kumar, Robert Tillya, Harish Chellani, Samuel Ngwala, Chinyere Ezeaka, Carole Kenner, Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, Sarah Murless-Collins, Gaurav Sharma, Jennifer Werdenberg-Hall, Chris Harnish, Mary Kinney, Anniina Lockwood, Cally Tann, Joy E. Lawn, Ousmane Ndiaye, June Madete, the Implementation Toolkit for Small and Sick Newborn Care Co-Design Group, Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Maureen Majamanda, Peter Acker, Joseph Bailey, Ekran Rashid
article en

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Most births worldwide (> 80%) occur in health care facilities, yet 2.3 million newborns die annually. If the know-do gap between evidence and implementation was closed, an estimated 752,000 newborn deaths could be prevented per year. We describe the co-design of the Implementation Toolkit (Newborn Toolkit) for Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC), a web platform and linked community of global implementers, facilitated by NEST360 and UNICEF to enable access to curated resources, including guidelines, practical tools and peer learning for contextual adaptation. METHODS: A systematic three step co-design process was followed. Step 1) Structure: We used an organising framework of WHO and UNICEF ten core components for systems strengthening for SSNC. We then reviewed relevant knowledge management platforms to identify elements facilitating user engagement. Step 2) Content: > 300 implementers collated publications and tools according to the ten core components. Step 3) Refining and building community: User data analytics plus direct feedback from the global communities of practice provided data to improve website content and community uptake, notably regular webinars. RESULTS: Step 1) Structure: In 2020, the Newborn Toolkit website structure was co-designed based on the ten core components. Step 2) Content: Working groups, organised by core components, collated over 1,100 resources in 15 languages. Step 3) Refining and building community: Cross-country learning was facilitated through 45 webinars with multi-disciplinary speakers from all continents including caregivers, clinicians, non-governmental organisation representatives, engineers, and data scientists. French language translation and engagement was added between 2023-2025. Unique user counts increased with 28,146 in 2023 to 62,561 in 2025 from 198 countries and territories. The most viewed content includes WHO guidelines, neonatal floor plans, the ABC device costing tool, and data tools. CONCLUSIONS: Given the urgency for accelerated progress for newborn survival by 2030, faster implementation of proven solutions is needed. It is crucial that implementers can access evidence and tools to adapt for their specific context, rather than "reinventing the wheel". Systems change is complex, requiring novel approaches to make it doable, such as standard, simplified action pathways available on the Newborn Toolkit. Gaps to address include evidence availability in multiple languages.

BMC PediatricsVol. 26(S1)
United Nations Children's Fund (US), University of London (GB), Gates Foundation (US), International Council of Nurses (CH), University of Trieste (IT), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (TZ), University of Malawi (MW), University of Lagos (NG), Kamuzu Central Hospital (MW), Laerdal (Norway) (NO), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KE), Afe Babalola University (NG), Align Technology (United States) (US), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB), Rwanda Diabetes Association (RW), Laerdal Global Health (NO), Short and Associates (United States) (US), Global Water Partnership West Africa (BF), Chiesi (Italy) (IT), University College London (GB), Rice University (US), Cheikh Anta Diop University (SN)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sall Family Foundation, UK Research and Innovation, ELMA Foundation, Medical Research Council
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Global Maternal and Child Health
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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