Knowledge and Conformance of Delivery Room Staff on
Essential Newborn Care Protocol

A Thesis Proposal
Presented to the
Faculty of the Graduate School of
University of the Visayas
Cebu City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Masters of Arts in Nursing
Major in Maternal and Child Health Nursing

by
MAY PRINCES T. ABUCEJO, RN
August, 2012
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

Rationale of the Study
The Child Survival Strategy published by the Department of Health has emphasized the need to strengthen health services of children throughout the stages. The neonatal period has been identified as one of the most crucial phases in the survival and development of the child. The Millennium Development Goal Number four (4) of reducing under five child mortality can be achieved by the Philippines, however, if the neonatal mortality rates are not addressed from its non-moving trend of decline, MDG 4 might not be achieved (http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/2664). Based on health statistics, the Philippines is one of the 42 countries that account for 90% of under-five mortality worldwide. Eighty two thousand (82,000) Filipino children under five years old die every year. Thirty seven percent (37%) or 40,000 of them are newborn. Majority of them (3/4) die within the first two days of life, mostly from preventable causes. The high mortality and morbidity rates in newborn are directly related to inappropriate hospital and community practices currently employed throughout the Philippines. According to the Department of Health (2009) that correct and appropriately-timed interventions given to the newborn during this period will benefit both the newborn and the mother as these will avert approximately 70% of avoidable newborn deaths (Department of Health, 2009).

Studies found out that Philippine hospitals’ practices