Progress on implementation of early essential newborn care technologies in China: a scoping review

Objective To analyze the current status of early essential newborn care technologies in China systematically, so as to provide evidence for future research and practice.

Methods Based on the method of scoping review, literature on the implementation progress of early essential newborn care technologies in China were retrieved from China National Konwledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China Science and Technology Journal Database, China Biology Medicine disc, PubMed, Ovid-Embase, CINAHL and other databases from January 1^st 2013 to December 31^st 2022. They were filtrated, summarized and analyzed.

Results A total of 50 papers were recruited, comprising 22 randomized controlled trials, 23 quasi-experimental studies, 2 qualitative studies, 1 case-control study, 1 cohort study, and 1 mixed-methods study. Nineteen provinces, cities and autonomous regions were involved in these studies. The eastern, central, and western regions accounted for 33.3%, 12.3% and 54.4% respectively, and 78 hospitals were involved in these studies. Study subjects of 37 (74.0%) articles were full-term vaginal delivery newborns and their mothers. Only 13 (26.0%) articles related to cesarean section, premature infants and their mothers. Newborn outcomes included feeding situation, newborn related complications, vital signs, growth and development, behavioral status, umbilical condition, hospitalization rate, biochemical indicators, mortality rate and intellectual development, with a follow-up period ranging from 42 days to 6 months after birth. The outcome of mothers included postpartum emotional experience, breast milk secretion, postpartum hemorrhage, indicators of postpartum recovery, biochemical indicators and delivery information.

Conclusion The implementation and evaluation of early essential newborn care technologies in China has become research highlights in recent years. There are still certain limitations in these articles in terms of research subjects, core measures and follow-up of maternal and infant health outcomes. It is necessary to further promote the standardized implementation of early essential newborn care technologies in different regions of China and continuously evaluate its short and long term impact on the health status of mothers and infants.