Review of Neonatal Resuscitation Competence Among Delivery Room Staff at Secondary Hospitals in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

Neonatal asphyxia is a preventable cause of neonatal death and neurodisability, and the competence of delivery room staff in neonatal resuscitation is critical to reducing preventable neonatal mortality in North West Nigeria. This study reviews the neonatal resuscitation competence of delivery room staff at secondary hospitals in Kebbi State and assesses the relationship between training exposure and observed skill performance. A cross-sectional design is applied to 180 nurses, midwives, and community health officers working in delivery rooms across 15 secondary health facilities selected through stratified sampling. A validated knowledge questionnaire adapted from the Helping Babies Breathe curriculum assesses theoretical knowledge, and a structured skills assessment using resuscitation mannequins evaluates practical competence in bag-mask ventilation, stimulation, and chest compression technique. SPSS is used for analysis, with chi-square tests examining the association between Helping Babies Breathe training completion and skills assessment scores. Available neonatal resuscitation literature from North West Nigeria identifies basic ventilation adequacy as the most frequently deficient skill domain among delivery room personnel, with simulation-based training producing significant improvement in skill retention. The Helping Babies Breathe second edition training standards provide the competence benchmark. Findings will support Kebbi State's PHC Development Agency in implementing structured simulation-based neonatal resuscitation skills updates. Keywords: neonatal resuscitation, Helping Babies Breathe, delivery room competence, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria.