BACKGROUND:
Globally, 2.3 million children died in the first 28 days of life in 2022, with approximately 6500 newborn deaths every day and most from preventable causes. Every Newborn Action Plan and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) highlight the necessity to reduce neonatal mortality through strengthened health systems, interprofessional collaboration, and accountability. In South Africa, the Perinatal Problem Identification Programme (PPIP) is a national quality improvement audit tool used for reducing perinatal and neonatal deaths by identifying avoidable factors.

OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective was to explore and describe the perceptions of professional nurses on the implementation of PPIP in neonatal wards at a hospital in Bojanala District, Northwest Province.

METHODS:
The study is a derivative of a major study, entitled “Perceptions of professional nurses regarding the implementation of PPIP in a public hospital in the Bojanala District, Northwest Province. An exploratory, descriptive, and contextual qualitative design was adopted. Upon receiving an ethical clearance from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Research Ethics Committee reference number SMUREC/H/54/2018: PG. Data was collected from twenty-three neonatal nurses, each with over three years of clinical experience. Data were collected through three focus group discussions using a semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed thematically using Tesch’s coding process. Trustworthiness and ethical considerations were maintained thought the study.

RESULTS:
Four main themes and ten subthemes emerged. Neonatal nurses advocate for the established interprofessional team that includes midwives and nurses, consistent feedback, effective leadership development, and continuous professional development.

CONCLUSIONS:
Neonatal nurses are the primary caregivers for improving newborn outcomes, but systemic barriers limit their contribution to PPIP. Interprofessional collaboration and comprehensive leadership are required to transform audit findings into operations.

KEY MESSAGE:
Achieving SDG 3 target 3.2 requires empowering neonatal nurses through integrated interprofessional collaboration. When supported, they become key drivers of meaningful perinatal audit implementation and improved survival for the most vulnerable newborns. Poster session 2 (Group A)