Providing standardized neonatal education in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Neonatal mortality remains high in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, many nurses are assigned to care for small and sick newborns with little or no specialized training. This article described the three-phase training provided to nurses/midwives in Northern Ghana. The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) developed the training based on the “train the trainer” to provide a standardized neonatal curriculum and associated bedside preceptorship. The training program was two months in length. The training was started at the teaching hospital and included two district hospitals.