A Harmonized Competency Based Training Curriculum for Kenya: Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care

The curriculum aims to standardize and harmonize Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) training in Kenya, addressing the country's high maternal and newborn mortality rates. The curriculum is designed to be used by all stakeholders conducting EmONC training, targeting all cadres that provide EmONC services. It focuses on the major causes of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in Kenya, including antenatal care, emergencies in labor and delivery, neonatal care, postnatal care, and post-abortal care. The curriculum consists of five modules, each with a standard structure that facilitates planning, organization, and implementation of the training event. The modules include learning objectives, skills to be acquired, job aids, practical skills, equipment lists, and monitoring and evaluation. A cross-cutting section on Communication, Triage, and Referral is also included. The curriculum has been developed through a participatory interactive process involving multiple maternal and newborn health stakeholders, led by the MOH Division of Reproductive Health and Division of Child and Adolescent Health. The stakeholders included experts in maternal and newborn health from the public sector, private sector, medical training institutions, health NGOs, and MNH service providers. The training program is designed to be completed in five days, making it an ideal course for resource-constrained settings with limited health workforce. The curriculum includes charts, multimedia resources, equipment lists, essential reading, and an index to facilitate ease of document navigation. The curriculum has been adopted by the Maternal and Newborn Health Technical Working Group as the minimum package for EmONC training by all stakeholders. The use of this curriculum is expected to enhance skills acquisition among health providers, leading to a reduction in maternal and newborn mortality rates in Kenya. The curriculum covers a range of topics, including antenatal care, emergencies in labor and delivery, neonatal care, postnatal care, and post-abortal care. The training program includes practical skills, such as assisted vaginal delivery, cesarean section, and perineal repair, as well as equipment lists and monitoring and evaluation. The curriculum is designed to be used in conjunction with the National guidelines for Quality Obstetric and Perinatal care, which will serve as the reference manual. The use of this curriculum is expected to improve the quality of EmONC services in Kenya, leading to better health outcomes for mothers and newborns. The training program is expected to be completed by all stakeholders conducting EmONC training, including health workers, trainers, and supervisors. The curriculum is designed to be flexible, allowing for shorter training periods targeting specific interventions. The curriculum includes a range of abbreviations, including ANC (Ante Natal Care), APH (Ante-partum Hemorrhage), ATLS (Advanced Trauma and Life Support), AVD (Assisted Vaginal Delivery), BEmOC (Basic Emergency Obstetric Care), BP (Blood Pressure), CCT (Controlled Cord Traction), CEmOC (Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care), CPR (Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation), CS (Cesarean Section), CTR (Communication, Triage, and Referral), DCAH (Division of Child and Adolescent Health), DFH (Department of Family Health), DRH (Division of Reproductive Health), ENC (Essential Neonatal care), EONC (Essential Obstetric and Neonatal Care), FANC (Focused Antenatal Care), FHR (Fetal Heart Rate), FP (Family Planning), IPC (Infection Prevention and Control), IV (Intra-venous), LLP (Left Lateral Position), M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation), MgSO4 (Magnesium Sulphate), MNH (Maternal and Neonatal Health), and others.