The nursing-midwifery workforce size significantly influences the reduction of neonatal mortality rate

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Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to quantify the confounded and independent role of nursing-midwifery workforce size (NMWS) in protecting against neonatal mortality (NMR) globally and regionally. Methods: Scatter plots, bivariate correlation, partial correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the correlations between NMWS and NMR. This cross-sectional study fully accounted for potential confounding effects of economic affluence, total fertility rate, and urbanization on this relationship. Countries were categorized to explore regional variations in the protective role of NMWS in reducing NMR. Results: Explaining 55.76% of NMR variance worldwide, NMWS correlated to NMR negatively and significantly. NMWS still significantly correlated to NMR, but only explained 9.12% of NMR variance when the confounding effects of economic affluence, total fertility rate and urbanization were removed in partial correlation. Linear stepwise regression identified NMWS as the third most significant variable influencing NMR variance worldwide. NMWS correlated to NMR significantly and consistently in different country groupings, especially in developing countries. This suggested that nursing shortage is a significant global issue, but worse in developing countries. Conclusions: NMWS appears to have been a protective factor against NMR globally, particularly in developing nations. This protective effect remained significant even after adjusting for economic affluence, total fertility rate, and urbanization. The consistent negative correlations observed between NMWS and NMR, both globally and regionally, highlight the importance of addressing the chronic shortage of nursing and midwifery personnel, prompting healthcare authorities to prioritize this issue.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)789-797
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Neonatal Nursing
Volume30
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author

Open Access - Access Right Statement

© 2024 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Neonatal Nurses Association. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Keywords

  • Confounded role
  • Independent role
  • Neonatal mortality rate
  • Nursing-midwifery staff shortage
  • Nursing-midwifery workforce size

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