Early detection of disabling neonatal diseases in Morocco: a study exploring the response of health professionals

Abstract

Currently, early detection of neonatal pathologies is fundamental to permanently eliminating the resulting disabilities. It represents a governmental priority. The aim of this study is to describe the response of health professionals to the need for early detection of disabling neonatal pathologies, and the factors that influence this answer and propose areas for improvement. The study adopted a descriptive and exploratory type, multicentric and quantitative, carried out between October and December 2021 using a questionnaire shared with 206 health professionals in Rabat prefecture. In all, 92 health professionals participated in the study and completed the questionnaire, of which 87% were women and 13% were men. Most participants were aged 41 to 50, 88% of participants had more than 10 years of service, and 57% of participants were doctors. In addition, 26% of participants had a negative perception of people with disabilities, 75% participants did not systematically screen newborns for disabling diseases, more than 59% of the participants knew neither the means nor the structures for dealing with disabilities nor the rights of people with disabilities, and 88% participants had never received training in disability and its medical and social care. This study represents a real opportunity and an innovation that, by presenting an initial assessment of the current response of health professionals to the need for early detection of newborns with disabling pathologies, will enable those responsible at different levels to reflect on an existing and priority problem.