A Low-Cost Care Bundle Reduces Preterm Infant Mortality in Tanzania

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By: Teertha Arora, Candidate for Masters in Public Health (Global Health), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Despite progress, Tanzania’s under-five mortality rate continues to be high—largely driven by deaths during the first week of birth. A pilot study recently assessed the benefits of a low-cost, evidence-based preventive care bundle on preterm infant mortality. The pilot was introduced at three university-affiliated and one district hospital with support from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tanzania…read more

Linking Maternal Height and Poor Birth Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa

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By: Teertha Arora, Candidate for Masters in Public Health (Global Health), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

A paper recently published in PLOS ONE examines the association between maternal height and cesarean section as well as maternal height and neonatal mortality in 34 sub-Saharan African countries, a region facing numerous maternal and neonatal health challenges along with the smallest gains—even losses—in average adult height during the last century…read more

2.6 Million Reasons to Invest in Stillbirth Estimates

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By: Hannah Blencowe, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Susannah Leisher, International Stillbirth Alliance on behalf of the Stillbirth Advocacy Working Group (SAWG), founded by World Health Organization’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Reducing stillbirths presents a solid case for economic investment with as much as a 10 to 25 times return on investment in economic and social benefits. Yet this investment case cannot be made if stillbirths are not tracked through national and global monitoring systems…read more