A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies

WHO News HNN Team

This news release is from WHO. New data show major setbacks for maternal health in many parts of the world, highlighting stark disparities in healthcare access Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released in a report by United Nations agencies today. This report, Trends in maternal mortality, … Continued

COVID-19 pandemic fuels largest continued backslide in vaccinations in three decades (WHO, UNICEF)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was published by the World Health Organization. WHO and UNICEF sound the alarm as new data shows global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million infants missing out on lifesaving vaccines The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official data published today by WHO … Continued

World Health Assembly charts course for COVID-19 response and global health priorities

World Health Organization

This article was originally published by the World Health Organization.  As health leaders prepare to gather for a virtual session of the resumed 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), WHO has three messages to share. First, we can beat COVID-19 with science, solutions and solidarity. More than 47 million COVID-19 cases have now been reported to WHO, … Continued

Marketing of breastmilk substitutes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Elsevier HNN Team

This article was originally published by The Lancet By Christoffer van Tulleken, Charlotte Wright, Amy Brown, David McCoy and Anthony Costello It is of concern that the US$70 billion infant formula industry has been actively exploiting concerns about COVID-19 to increase sales, in violation of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the … Continued

New findings confirm global disruptions in essential health services for women and children from COVID-19

Global Financing Facility HNN Team

This article was originally published by the GFF    Health impacts of lockdowns, economic losses in poor nations require targeted action and vigilance to save lives and protect against a worsening crisis.  September 18, 2020 – Essential health services for women and children in many lower-income countries are being disrupted by COVID-19, according to new findings … Continued

Coronavirus May Increase Premature Births, Studies Suggest

New York Times HNN Team

This article was originally published by the New York Times/Roni Caryn Rabin.  Pregnant women who are infected with the coronavirus and hospitalized are at risk for developing serious complications, and may face an elevated risk for delivering their babies prematurely, according to new studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They may also … Continued

Stillbirth rate rises dramatically during pandemic

Nature HNN Team

A slew of studies from around the world has reported a disturbing trend: since the coronavirus pandemic started, there has been a significant rise in the proportion of pregnancies ending in stillbirths, in which babies die in the womb. Researchers say that in some countries, pregnant women have received less care than they need because … Continued

Every woman’s right to a companion of choice during childbirth

HNN Team

WHO strongly recommends supporting women to have a chosen companion during labour and childbirth, including during COVID-19. When a woman has access to trusted emotional, psychological and practical support during labour and childbirth, evidence shows that both her experience of childbirth and her health outcomes can improve. In Companion of choice during labour and childbirth for improved quality of care, … Continued

Nepal lockdown halved health facility births and increased stillbirths and newborn deaths

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Nepal HNN Team

This article was originally published by the LSHTM COVID-19 response has resulted in major reductions in health facility births in Nepal and widened inequalities, with significantly increased institutional stillbirth and neonatal mortality, according to a new study in the Lancet Global Health. The research was led Dr Ashish KC and Nepal colleagues with Uppsala University, Sweden, and … Continued

During Coronavirus Lockdowns, Some Doctors Wondered: Where Are the Preemies?

New York Times HNN Team

This article was originally published by The NY Times This spring, as countries around the world told people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, doctors in neonatal intensive care units were noticing something strange: Premature births were falling, in some cases drastically. It started with doctors in Ireland and Denmark. Each … Continued