Office of Global Health and HIV (OGHH)

Office of Overseas Programming & Training Support (OPATS)

Maternal and Newborn Health Training PackageSession 1: Introduction to Maternal and Newborn Health

Meet Saro from Nepal

Meet Lorenzo from Peru

Meet Nathi from Uganda

These deaths and disabilities are preventable. You can play a part.

Maternal deaths, illness, and disability

In 2013, 289,000 women died from complications of pregnancy and childbirth each year

15 million women suffer from long-term illnesses or disability due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth

Newborn deaths

Each year, worldwide 2.6 million babies are stillborn 2.9 million babies die in the first

month of life

Causes of newborn deaths

Causes of newborn deaths + proportion of child (U5) deaths

Inextricable link

In developing countries, a mother’s death in childbirth means that her newborn will almost certainly die

When mothers are malnourished, ill, or receive inadequate care, their newborns face a higher risk of disease and premature death

Improved practices for one benefit the other “A baby on its mother’s back does not know

the way is long” (proverb from Nigeria)

Post adaptation

[Share maternal and newborn death and disability data for the country. See the document below with country-specific information if needed.]

countdown2015mnch.org/documents/2013Report/Countdown_2013-Update_withprofiles.pdf

Period of greatest risk for mothers and newbornsThe 24 hours around childbirth and the first day

of a baby’s life carry the greatest risk for neonatal

and maternal mortality.

The “3 delays model”:

Delay in deciding to seek care Delay in reaching appropriate care Delay in receiving adequate and appropriate

care and treatmentModel highlights the barriers women face in getting timely and effective care to prevent deaths in pregnancy and childbirth.

Inequity and gaps Stark disparities in coverage of MNH

interventions between and within countries– Babies born to poor mothers in rural and remote

areas face great challenges to survival– Women in Sub-Saharan Africa face greatest risks– Mothers and babies in South Asia die in great

numbers What about maternal and newborn mortality

in the United States?

Post adaptation

[Share relevant information on maternal and newborn health inequity and gaps within the country, or among countries within the region, as appropriate.]

The good news Most maternal and newborn deaths are

preventable– Prepregnancy: Preventing unwanted pregnancies and

promoting healthy spacing and timing of births; preventing anemia

– Pregnancy: Antenatal care in pregnancy and healthy home behaviors, including good nutrition and rest

– Birth: Skilled care during childbirth and access to emergency obstetric care

– Postnatal: Care and support in the immediate days and weeks after childbirth; universal coverage of 16 proven newborn health interventions, including optimal breastfeeding in the first six months

MNH & MDG Goals Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

– Target 4A: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-5 mortality rate • Indicator 4.1 Under-5 mortality rate• Indicator 4.2 Infant mortality rate• Indicator 4.3 Proportion of 1-year-old children immunized against measles

Goal 5: Improve maternal health – Target 5A: Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015,

the maternal mortality ratio• Indicator 5.1 Maternal mortality ratio• Indicator 5.2 Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel• Indicator 5.3 Contraceptive prevalence rate• Indicator 5.4 Adolescent birth rate• Indicator 5.5 Antenatal care coverage (at least one visit and at least four visits)• Indicator 5.6 Unmet need for family planning

Trends in maternal mortality

Trends in neonatal mortality

Remarkable progress to reduce child mortality has been made over recent decades. However…– Progress toward reducing perinatal and neonatal mortality

has been far slower

From 1990 to 2012– Child mortality declined by 50%– Neonatal mortality declined by only 36%

MNH research, initiatives, and programs over time

Post adaptation

[Share information on current national and/or Ministry of Health MNH goals, initiatives, and frameworks.]

Peace Corps is playing an important role.

Post adaptation Briefly describe the MNH components of your post’s health

project framework (goal, objectives, activities, targets, and indicators) along with current Volunteer work in MNH.

Show how Volunteers’ roles and work and the health project framework for MNH fits within national MNH initiatives and frameworks. It may help to make a sketch or diagram illustrating the intersection of Volunteer work and national MNH programs and how Volunteers contribute to national goals.

As appropriate, and time permitting, invite a seasoned Volunteer to briefly share his or her MNH activities.

The continuum of care