Table 1 Outcomes and data collection methods for evaluation of the Saving Babies’ Lives programme intervention in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia

 Design, implementation and assessment of an effective programme to reduce neonatal mortality

An effective programme blueprint

Replication of the SBL programme

Government records

Research records

End

 Reduce neonatal mortality

Reduction in neonatal mortality

Neonatal mortality rate

Surveillance

Continuous

 Describe neonatal epidemiology over a five-year period

Description of neonatal epidemiology

Characteristics of all neonates born: gestation, birth weight, gender, birth location, season of birth

Surveillance

Continuous

Characteristics of all neonates that die: Causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, contributing factors to stillbirths and neonatal deaths, location, timing, season

Surveillance,

Verbal autopsy,

Social autopsy

Continuous

 Improve community-based and primary care for all neonates

Effective neonatal care provided by CHWs

CHW engagement: PLA attendance rate and frequency, awareness and motivation regarding neonatal healthcare, interaction between group and facilitator

PLA records

Continuous

CHW empowerment: knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding neonatal care, number of interventions implemented by CHWs

KAP survey

PLA records

Annual

Continuous

Effective neonatal care provided by primary care facilities

Facility health outcomes: facility neonatal mortality

Surveillance

Continuous

Facility capacity to provide neonatal care: equipped and staffed facilities, skilled healthcare workers: knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding neonatal care

KAPES survey

Annual

Effective linkage between health system levels

Neonatal healthcare linkage: referral patterns, home delivery rate, care-seeking patterns

Facility records, Surveillance,

Social autopsy

Continuous

 Develop an effective neonatal programme

Improved neonatal health outcomes

Perinatal mortality (stillbirth rate + death within first 7 days of live birth)

Surveillance

Continuous

First day mortality (death within first 24 h of live birth)

Surveillance

Continuous

Change in patterns of neonatal death: causes of death (cause-specific mortality fraction), location, timing, season

Verbal autopsy

Continuous

Feasible and acceptable programme

CHW perceptions about programme: satisfaction, facilitators and barriers, successes and challenges

Feedback surveys, FGDs & SSIs

End

Healthcare worker perceptions about programme: satisfaction, facilitators and barriers, successes and challenges

Feedback surveys, FGDs & SSIs

End

Policy-maker and implementer perceptions about programme: satisfaction, facilitators and barriers, successes and challenges

Feedback surveys, FGDs & SSIs

End

Influence or incorporation of programme components into Ministry of Health policy or strategy

Government records

End

 Calculate cost-effectiveness of the intervention

Cost-effective programme

Cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared to normal standard of care: disability-adjusted life years, quality-adjusted life years

Research administrative records

End