Experts from the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium (Keprecon), will carry out a ground-breaking trial aimed at reducing hypothermia in premature babies in Kenya.
The project has been made possible thanks to £1.8million funding from the UKRI Medica Research Council.
Sunday marks World Prematurity Day (17 November) and every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely across the world. One million babies die before their 5th birthday, many due to complications of prematurity. In Kenya, deaths in the first months of life are high, where 20 babies per 1000 live births sadly die. For comparison, this is 6-7 times higher than in the UK.
A team of experts will now carry out a trial to evaluate a care bundle aimed at reducing hypothermia in babies born prematurely in Kenya.
The care bundle (called NEWS-HEAT) includes evidence-based actions to keep babies warm and an 'early warning score' monitoring chart, which uses a traffic-light system, to help visually identify babies who need additional care.
The trial will take place in 28 hospitals in counties across Kenya and it is anticipated around 11,000 babies will be involved. All hospitals will receive training on early essential newborn care. Half of the hospitals will implement the NEWS-HEAT care bundle, and the other half won't. Data will then be compared to see if NEWS-HEAT reduces hypothermia and has an impact on other important outcomes, e.g. death in the first week of life.
The trial will begin to be set-up in January 2025.
Dr Eleanor Mitchell, Associate Professor of Clinical Trials, who is leading the trial at the University of Nottingham says "I am delighted to be working closely with colleagues in the UK and Kenya on the NEWS-HEAT trial.
Too many premature babies in Kenya have hypothermia which is a major problem that needs tackling. I am grateful to the funders in enabling us to evaluate a care package that includes proven treatments. It's a privilege and honour to lead the team of clinicians, researchers, parents and policymakers, to try and make a real difference in improving outcomes for these vulnerable babies.'"
Dr Jalemba Aluvaala, Paediatrician and Senior Lecturer, trial lead from the University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health says "Hypothermia is a common problem among newborn babies with serious adverse effects including death. This trial is a timely opportunity to generate evidence to address this problem among the most vulnerable newborns – premature babies- and is a welcome extension of clinical and scientific collaboration with colleagues in UK and Kenya."
The research team includes clinicians, researchers and parents from the University of Nottingham in the UK, and the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta National Hospital, Aga Khan University, Mbagathi District Hospital, National Defence College and Preemie Love Foundation in Kenya. The team are working in partnership with the Kenya Paediatric Research Association (Keprecon), the Ministry of Health, Kenya Paediatric Association and the Kenyan Council of Governors.
