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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Harshad Sanghvi, MBChB, MMed and Susannah Eldridge Hills, BA. JHPIEGO, Johns Hopkins University, 1615 Thames St., Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-614-6639, harshad@jhpiego.org
This paper examines the relationship between newborn survival and antenatal and skilled childbirth care and makes a case for increased emphasis on the immediate newborn period. Current data suggest that maternal and neonatal health programmes must place a greater emphasis on skilled care at childbirth if newborn survival rates are to be improved. The care of newborns immediately after childbirth is critical to survival, and only those post-childbirth practices strongly supported by evidence should be promoted. Ineffective and harmful newborn care practices such as delayed breastfeeding, deep suctioning, use of sodium bicarbonate to resuscitate asphyxiated newborns and the use of topical antibiotics for cord care must be replaced by effective and low cost practices. Practices that need to be scaled up include clean and safe childbirth, supplementation of newborns with vitamin A, immediate skin-to-skin contact for warming newborns, avoiding immediate bathing, exclusive breastfeeding for stable low birth weight newborns, and kangaroo care. The role of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) of malaria and use of insecticide-treated nets in pregnancy is also emphasised. This presentation will describe how maternal and neonatal health programmes can play a key role in closing the newborn survival gap by emphasizing improved newborn care practices, particularly during the critical childbirth and newborn periods.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Maternal Health, International Public Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.