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Facility Based Postnatal Care in Sri Lanka: Achievements and Challenges

Presentation at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference, October 19, 2015 Background: Sri Lanka has demonstrated remarkable progress in its health indicators with a relatively modest investment in health. The maternal mortality ratio is around 30 per 100,000 live births and antenatal care coverage is almost universal with 99.9% institutional deliveries in which more than … Continue reading “Facility Based Postnatal Care in Sri Lanka: Achievements and Challenges”

Postnatal Care for Mother and Newborn: WHO Guidelines and Recommendations on Postnatal Care of the Mother and the Newborn

Presentation at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference, October 19, 2015 Background: Most maternal and infant deaths occur in the days and weeks following childbirth, yet, this is the most neglected period for the provision of quality care. In 2013 WHO updated guidelines that addressed the timing and content of postnatal care (PNC) and contacts … Continue reading “Postnatal Care for Mother and Newborn: WHO Guidelines and Recommendations on Postnatal Care of the Mother and the Newborn”

Patterns in Pre-Lacteal Feeding Among Mothers in Urban Cambodia, Nepal, Senegal and Tanzania

Presentation at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference, October 19, 2015 Background: This study assessed early breastfeeding practices of mothers discharged from health facilities after delivery, and their exposure to promotions for breast-milk substitutes within the health system. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at randomly sampled health facilities in the most populous city of … Continue reading “Patterns in Pre-Lacteal Feeding Among Mothers in Urban Cambodia, Nepal, Senegal and Tanzania”

The Association Between Post Natal Care and Newborn Feeding Practices in 14 Sub-Saharan African Countries

Presentation at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference, October 19, 2015 Background: The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund recommend the promotion of post-natal care (PNC) in addition to antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA) to improve newborn outcomes. PNC includes the promotion of immediate and exclusive breastfeeding. Trials and … Continue reading “The Association Between Post Natal Care and Newborn Feeding Practices in 14 Sub-Saharan African Countries”

Integration of Care for Mothers and Babies Immediately After Birth to Prevent and Manage PPH and Birth Asphyxia: A Facility Based Approach to Improving Care

Presentation at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference, October 19, 2015 Background: To prevent PPH, uterotonic must be given immediately after birth. This is the same period where attention to newborn breathing is essential. Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training has been widely used but connection with third stage care for the mother is limited. In … Continue reading “Integration of Care for Mothers and Babies Immediately After Birth to Prevent and Manage PPH and Birth Asphyxia: A Facility Based Approach to Improving Care”

Doulas Addressing Disparities in Health Care in NYC and Beyond

By Nan Strauss, Director of Policy and Research, Choices in Childbirth As is true worldwide, strategies to improve U.S. maternal health are widely known but remain unavailable to many women. New York City (NYC), known for its prestigious medical schools and high quality specialty care, is no exception to these disparities. Statistics signal the need for change. The maternal mortality ratio in NYC has exceeded the national average for 40 years and racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths also surpass national rates. Newly released department of health data show that from 2006 through 2010, black women in NYC were 12 times as likely to suffer a pregnancy-related death as white women… read more

Improving Access to Maternal and Newborn Health Services While Strengthening Health Systems: Why mHealth Should be Part of the Solution

Presentation at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference, October 19, 2015 Background: The potential of the rapidly expanding field of mobile health (mHealth) has not yet been fully harnessed in support of efforts to improve maternal and newborn health (MNH). An mHealth project named CCPF was launched in rural Malawi in 2011, consisting of a … Continue reading “Improving Access to Maternal and Newborn Health Services While Strengthening Health Systems: Why mHealth Should be Part of the Solution”

Keeping Up With Cuba: Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in the Caribbean

Fear of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases has been used as an excuse to deny women health care around the world. Some women living with HIV have even been sterilized without their knowledge. But with proper treatment, the chances of transmission to an unborn child are very low in many cases. The World … Continue reading “Keeping Up With Cuba: Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in the Caribbean”

Measuring Content of Contacts Reveals Missed Opportunities to Deliver Quality Maternal and Newborn Health Care

Content of maternal and newborn health care needs to be measured to improve the quality of contacts between families and health workers, highlights research carried out by the IDEAS project, and published in PLoS ONE. The number of families that had contact with frontline workers suggested that demand for health care was increasing compared to previous reports from the same study sites. However, the percentage of women and babies who received care with all the recommended content was considerably lower across all stages of the continuum of care…… read more