Objective:

To determine adherence, overall and by components, to the Helping Babies Breathe strategy by physicians caring for neonates in an intermediate complexity institution.

Materials and Methods:

Cross-sectional study that included live neonates born by spontaneous vaginal delivery and who received care from pediatricians, gynecologists or interns in the delivery room of a university hospital in the city of Cali, Colombia, in 2017. Fetuses with major congenital malformations, twins, and neonates with less than 34 weeks of gestational age were excluded. Sampling was systematic and the sample size was of 150 neonates. Baseline neonatal and maternal characteristics were assessed, as well as adherence to the Helping Babies Breathe strategy and its components. A descriptive analysis was performed.

Results:

Adherence to the Helping Babies Breathe was 65.6% (95% CI 53.8-78.4) for pediatricians, 33.33% (95% CI: 4,3-77,7) for obstetricians and gynecologists, and 75.3% (95% CI: 64,8-85,1) for interns. The lowest frequency was found for cap placement on the neonate’s head, 64.90% (95% CI: 56.7-72.4), and placement of the baby in contact with the mother’s skin, 65% (95% CI: 55.9-74.4); the highest frequency was found for covering the baby with warm blankets, 98,6% (95% CI: 95.3-99.8), and positive pressure ventilation in those cases of absent response to initial stimulation, 100% (95% CI 30-100).

Conclusions:

Results pertaining to the degree of adherence on the part of the practitioners suggest the need to implement continuous education and evaluation processes focused on the application of this strategy which has been shown to be effective in institutions offering childbirth care.

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