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Abstract Background We describe an on-site clinical mentoring program aimed at improving emergency obstetrical and new-born care (EmONC) in Nepal and assess its effectiveness on nurses’ knowledge and skills. In Nepal, both the maternal mortality ratio (MMR, 239/100,000 live births) and the neonatal mortality rate (NMR, 21/1000 live births) were among the highest in the world in 2016, despite impressive progress over recent decades considering the challenging environment. Methods From September 2016 to April 2018, three experienced nurses conducted repeated mentoring visits in 61 comprehensive or basic EmONC centers and birthing centers located in 4 provinces of Nepal. Using updated national training manuals and teaching aids, these clinical mentors assessed and taught 12 core EmONC clinical skills to their nurse-mentees. Clinical mentors worked with management mentors whose goal was to improve the nurses’ working environment. We assessed whether the cohort of nurse-mentees performed better as a group and individually performed better at the end of the program than at baseline using relevant tests (chi-square test, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, and Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-population rank test). Results In total, 308 nurses were assessed, including 96 (31.2%), 77 (25.0%) and 135 (43.8%) who participated in all three, two or only one mentoring session, respectively. In total, 225 (73.0%) worked as auxiliary nurse-midwives (ANMs), while 69 (22.4%) worked as nurses. One hundred and ninety five (63.3%) were trained as skilled birth attendants, of which 45 (23.1%) were nurses, 141 (72.3%) were auxiliaries and 9 (4.6%) had other positions. The proportion of ANMs and nurse-mentees who obtained a knowledge assessment score ≥ 85% increased from 57.8 to 86.1% (p |
