The central hypothesis of this study is that a neonatal healthcare programme that has a significant impact on neonatal mortality and which spans the healthcare journey from village to referral hospital can be developed and implemented in a low-resource rural setting.
This study is a five-year cluster-randomised trial, covering a rural and isolated province in North-Eastern Cambodia. The intervention of this study is the Saving Babies' Lives programme, which is a comprehensive, contextual and iterative neonatal healthcare package. The Saving Babies' Lives programme comprises a training programme for primary care facilities, and participatory action research with community health workers (known in Cambodia as village health support group volunteers). The control is no intervention; standard government service continues. Qualitative and quantitative data collection supports improvements in the iterative programme, and evaluation of the study, with the intention of creating a scalable blueprint.
Wellcome Trust grant number 220211.
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Saving Babies Lives Training Programme
Study Participants
The Saving Babies Lives Programme will be aimed at government health care staff working in the community (Village Health Support Group Workers, (VHSG)), at Health Center (nurses and midwives) and at the referral hospital (doctors and nurses)
Inclusion Criteria
• Staff members chosen by the Provincial Health Director to attend the programme
Exclusion Criteria
• Not applicable
Village Health Support Group Workers (VHSG) Baby Health Meetings
Study Participants
* Two Village Health Support Group Workers (VHSG) from villages served by each Health Center cluster
* Adults (aged 18 years or older)
Inclusion Criteria
* Work as a government health care staff working in the community (Village Health Support Group Workers , (VHSG))
* Live in a village served by a chosen Health Center
* Are able to commit to attend meetings regularly
* Give consent to participate in the meetings
Exclusion Criteria
* Refusal to participate
* Be from a village where two members have already been chosen
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial focused on expanding a programme called 'Saving Babies' Lives' to new locations — can you tell me what that programme actually involves and whether our hospital or region uses any of its practices?
2Since this study has already been completed, has our care team looked at any results or findings from it, and do those findings influence how you manage risks around perinatal mortality in your practice?
3The trial measured how well the programme could be replicated in new places rather than testing a specific treatment — does that mean the care approaches it promotes are already considered standard practice, or are they still being evaluated for effectiveness?
4Are there other ongoing or completed trials focused on reducing perinatal mortality that might be more directly relevant to my situation or pregnancy care?
5Given that this programme was designed at a system or hospital level, is there anything I can ask for or do as a patient to make sure our care team is following the most up-to-date guidelines for preventing perinatal loss?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
1. Number of new locations the Saving Babies' Lives programme is replicated in, as assessed by implementation of the programme in a new location