Safe delivery practices are essential for the health and well-being of mothers and newborns. The Sultanate of Oman, where 98% of deliveries occur in hospitals or certified clinics, has made significant strides in improving maternal and child health by providing accessible care before and during pregnancy and after delivery. Emphasis is placed on regular antenatal check-ups, proper nutrition and early identification of high-risk pregnancies.
The Ministry of Health oversees the availability of equipment, medication and health care provider training focused on addressing common neonatal challenges such as asphyxia, sepsis, prematurity, hypothermia and congenital disorders.
Guidelines for managing newborn problems levels 1 and 2
In 2007, a neonatal care package was developed. The Ministry of Health revised management guidelines for high-risk newborns and established a training system for health care providers at the primary care level. In 2008, national guidelines on managing newborn problems were rolled out. Adapted to the Omani context from World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and issued for 2 levels – the first for primary health care facilities equipped for delivery, the second for higher levels of care – the emphasis is on early identification and intervention for problems such as asphyxia, sepsis, prematurity, hypothermia and congenital disorders.
Infection remains a concern. Sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria is a major cause of mortality among premature newborns. Rigorous infection control measures, timely diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics are essential to combat the problem.
In collaboration with WHO, Oman is taking a lead on the Global Strategy for Infection Prevention and Control. It has implemented a neonatologist-led antimicrobial stewardship programme which has reduced antibiotic use in newborn wards by nearly 65% without negatively impacting mortality rates or the detection of sepsis. To further strengthen health outcomes, Oman supports universal newborn hearing screening protocols and neonatal screening programmes for conditions like congenital hypothyroidism, and protocols are in place for prematurity-related care and safe transport. These initiatives are coordinated by the National Centre for Women and Child Health.
While these practices provide a solid foundation for newborn care, it remains essential to ensure that the mother has a safe delivery, especially in obstetric emergencies. To meet this need, Oman has introduced specialized training programmes.
The programme’s objectives are to improve clinical outcomes for mothers and babies by enhancing team responses to obstetric emergencies, strengthening multi-professional teamwork and communication during high-risk obstetric situations, standardizing emergency obstetric care across health care institutions and building institutional capacity by empowering master trainers to cascade the training as part of ongoing staff development.
The training comprises a mix of interactive lectures, skills stations and simulation-based scenarios covering topics such as postpartum haemorrhage management, shoulder dystocia, eclampsia and maternal collapse, cord prolapse, sepsis and early warning signs, team communication and leadership in emergencies, newborn resuscitation and decision-making and risk management in obstetrics.
Incorporated into the national antenatal care policy, the programme will be mandatory in government and private health care institutions providing maternity services.
In 2024, the first phase of the training programme was conducted in 14 hospitals. The programme has now been adopted as the national standard for obstetric emergency training in Oman. Upon completion of the training, teams are expected to cascade the programme within their respective institutions, contributing to long-term sustainability and quality improvement in maternity care.
The next set of trainings in Oman, hosted by the Ministry of Health, will include Sultan Qaboos University Medical City, the Medical City for Military and Security Services and private hospitals alongside Ministry facilities.
Safe transport of ill children
Transferring patients safely between health care facilities is a core function of health care delivery. In 2011, Oman established a safe transport training course to this effect.
In 2013, a follow-up training of trainers was conducted to build local capacity and ensure the initiative’s sustainability. National guidelines for the safe transportation of clinically ill children were developed and widely disseminated. First issued in 2013, the guidelines were updated in 2021 to reflect the latest evidence-based practices.
Combined, these efforts illustrate Oman’s unwavering commitment to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and ensure a safe delivery for every mother and child.
