P0260 - Helping Babies Breathe: Case study of a successful global development solution to improve the research-to-translation value chain for neonatal resuscitation in low/middle-income countries

Background: Each year, there are 2.5 million stillbirths and 2.6 million neonatal deaths. Intrapartum asphyxia is estimated to underlie nearly 25% of all perinatal mortality. Low/middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionate burden for asphyxia-related deaths. Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is a purpose-adapted neonatal resuscitation training and educational program, which has rolled out in 80+ LMICs. This presentation describes the manner by which global scale-up of HBB, underpinned by unique public/private partnerships, has catalyzed innovation in development of translational practices, products, and programs. In addition to exploring the overall global research-to-translation impact of Helping Babies Breathe, the translational value of HBB is further described within the context of its implementation in Kenya, from 2009 - 2019.

Approach: The Helping Babies Breathe program is analyzed within the paradigm of the “research-to-translation value chain.” Successful translation is defined as a process that ensures optimal participation and meaningful interaction among researchers and development practitioners through all phases of a global development initiative (i.e., design, adoption, sustainability), and results in one or more disseminated products, practices/procedures, or programs.

Findings: Over the past decade, under the collaborative leadership of key partners from the public and private sectors, including industry, professional associations (nursing, midwifery, medical), nongovernmental organizations, and national country partners, HBB has resulted in translation of global practices regarding knowledge, skills, competencies, and impact. HBB translational products include educational materials, low-cost simulation equipment, award-winning neonatal resuscitation commodities, and digital health tools. HBB kindled the development of a large suite of integrated maternal and newborn care educational programs (Helping Babies Survive), which have been integrated into international and national policy frameworks. Within Kenya, research partnerships that were initially established to support evaluation and implementation of Helping Babies Breathe, in particular, and neonatal resuscitation, in general, have evolved into a strong collaborative ecosystem for support of implementation science and innovation across other areas of maternal and newborn care. These North-South and South-South relationships are supported by strong networks of individual stakeholders and institutional partnerships that, in some cases, have now existed for over a decade.

Implications/Value: The Helping Babies Breathe initiative is a case study of a globally successful translated development solution to address intrapartum asphyxia in LMICs.