Table 2.

Top ten development research priorities for improving newborn health and birth outcomes by 2025 as ranked by 91 experts

Rank	Research questions	Total score (confidence interval)	Agreement between scorers
8*	Can community–based initiation of Kangaroo Mother Care reduce neonatal mortality of clinically stable preterm and low birth weight babies?	82 (78–86)	64
26	How can the accuracy of community health workers in detecting key most important high risk conditions or danger signs in pregnant women be improved?	77 (70–80)	61
35	Can perinatal audits improve quality of care in health facilities and improve fetal and neonatal outcomes?	74 (67–79)	58
37	Can intrapartum monitoring to enhance timely referral improve fetal and neonatal outcomes?	74 (67–79)	57
38	Can training community health workers to recognize and treat neonatal sepsis at home with oral antibiotics when referral is not possible reduce neonatal mortality?	74 (62–78)	57
40	Can oral amoxicillin at home for treatment of neonatal pneumonia reduce neonatal mortality?	73 (64–78)	58
43	Can models for strengthening capacity of health Professionals in caring for neonates in peripheral hospitals improve neonatal outcomes?	73 (63–77)	54
44	Can intervention package for CHWs to prevent and manage perinatal asphyxia be delivered by community health workers?	72 (64–77)	55
47	Can low–cost devices for facility care of newborns be developed and tested for the effectiveness at various levels of the health system (eg, CPAP devices, syringe drivers, IV giving sets, phototherapy units, oxygen concentrators, oxygen saturation monitors incubators, ventilators, therapeutic hypothermia technology) ?	72 (65–76)	53
50	Can surfactant reduce preterm morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries?	72 (65–78)	56

*Also in the overall top 10 priorities.