Countries taking bold steps to end preventable newborn deaths within a generation; framework for ending maternal mortality released

Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe

Countries are taking bold steps to end preventable newborn deaths within a generation. Additionally, a framework for ending maternal mortality has been released.

Map: The best (and worst) countries to be a mother

Ethiopia, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Central African Republic, United States of America

On average, one woman in 30 is likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, and seven out of 10 women will lose a child in their lifetime. Despite global improvements in children’s and maternal health, inequality between the world’s richest and poorest mothers and children is widening.

‘Tale of Two Cities’ Widens Worldwide for Children, Study Shows

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Peru, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Central African Republic, Kenya, Vietnam, United States of America

In two-thirds of the 36 developing countries among the 179 nations surveyed, the poorest urban children are at least twice as likely to die as their wealthier counterparts, according to the report.

Oral Antibiotics Are Found to Save More Infant Lives

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Kenya

“These results should provide a sound basis for policy makers and experts to now empower and train staff at first-level outpatient units and to ensure proper drugs and equipment are available,” said Dr. Steve Wall, an adviser to Save the Children.

Simplified Antibiotic Treatment Strategy Could Save Thousands of Babies

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Kenya

Now, new, more accessible drug regimens – combining oral and injectable antibiotics – given in outpatient settings appear to be just as effective as hospital care.

Oral antibiotics showed similar efficacy, safety to injectable antibiotics for bacterial infections

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya

To compare efficacy of oral amoxicillin vs. injectable procaine benzylpenicillin-gentamicin for treatment of fast breathing, researchers randomized 2,333 infants with fast breathing as the only sign of possible serious bacterial infection to receive either treatment for 7 days.

WHO called to change infant infection guidelines

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya

In disadvantaged areas, many children never reach hospital and around 60% of parents refuse hospital treatment for young infants or are unwilling to adhere to treatment regimens of injectable antibiotics.

Governments can prevent tragic death toll of mothers and babies

Nigeria, Nepal, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan

Governments could substantially reduce the tragic death toll of infants and mothers by making postnatal care services more accessible – especially to impoverished and poorly educated women in rural areas, according to a study.

Frühgeburten häufigste Todesursache bei Kleinkindern

Nigeria, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan

Mehr als jedes sechste Kind, das keine fünf Jahre alt wird, stirbt an den Komplikationen und Folgen einer Frühgeburt, wie Wissenschaftler in eine neue Studie ermittelt haben.

For Babies, Preterm Birth Is Now The No. 1 Cause Of Death

Ethiopia, Angola, Bangladesh, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Kenya

To learn more, Goats and Soda spoke with report co-author Robert Black, the director of the Institute for International Programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.