Birth asphyxia – gaps in action and in knowledge

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

5178.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 2:30 PM

Abstract #51263

Joy E Lawn, BM BS MPH MRCP, International Perinatal Unit, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford St., London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom and Gary Darmstadt, MD, Save the Children, 444 NE Ravenna Blvd., Suite 301F, Seattle, WA 98115-6467, 206-525-3292, joylawn@yahoo.co.uk.

Background: There are an estimated 4 - 9 million babies who experience asphyxia at birth each year. Approximately 1.2 million of these babies die and an unknown number experience long-term disability. However, information is lacking, particularly at community level where the majority of birth asphyxia occurs. Currently there is unprecedented attention for newborn health. Asphyxia is a key problem to address in improving newborn survival, as it is believed to account for 29% of the estimated 4 million neonatal deaths annually, and approximately half of the estimated 3.9 million stillbirths.

Methods: A survey of 350 global experts, policy-makers and community-based program managers was carried out in order to identify:

approaches to recognize individual babies with birth asphyxia;
methods to monitor birth asphyxia in the community;
interventions that are in use at community level to prevent and manage birth asphyxia;
gaps in implementation of proven interventions to address asphyxia; and
gaps in knowledge that limit the prevention, recognition and management of asphyxia at community level.

Results and discussion: Survey results were synthesized with an extensive review of the literature to make recommendations for programmatic and research priorities toat prevent and manage birth asphyxia more effectively at community level. The paper concludes with an estimate of the numbers of deaths that could be avoided if proven interventions were applied.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session the participant will be able to

3. Recognize the importance of addressing birth asphyxia to achieve child survival millennium development goals
6. List the priorities for implementation and research to address birth asphyxia at a community level

Keywords: Infant Mortality, Pediatrics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

Advances in Neonatal Health

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA