How One Country Drastically Cut Its Newborn Death Rate
There were some glimmers of good news in an otherwise grim report released by UNICEF this week documenting the alarmingly high death rate of newborns worldwide: Bangladesh has managed to cut its newborn mortality rate from 64.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 20.1 per 1,000 today. That’s 1 in every 50 births. By comparison, … Continued
Kangaroo mother care helps ensure the health of at-risk newborns
By Shishir Morol and Touhid Hasan Originally appeared in Protho Alo and reprinted by permission. Translation by Sohrab Hussain. To ensure her newborn would survive, Sayeda Meherunnessa, a school teacher was admitted to Kumarkhali Sub-District Hospital, Kushtia, on 23 February 2017. After the third day of her stay it was found that the mother kept her … Continued
Nine countries commit to halve maternal and newborn deaths in health facilities
New WHO and UNICEF-supported network to improve care for mothers and babies On February 14 of 2017, 9 countries – Bangladesh, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda – committed to halving preventable deaths of pregnant women and newborns in their health facilities within the next 5 years. Through a new Network … Continued
Unnecessary C-sections done in Bangladesh, says Save the Children director Ishtiaq Mannan
“This is a life-saving procedure. So too many caesarian deliveries are as dangerous as too few,” Dr Ishtiaq Mannan, director of the Save the Children’s health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS wing, said at an orientation programme for journalists on Sunday. Citing the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), he said 23 percent of facility deliveries … Continued
Local leaders’ influence helps safe child birth in rural Bangladesh
The family planning wing of the Bangladesh government has adopted a policy to use local government leaders’ influence in ensuring 24/7 normal delivery services and child care at the village level facilities.
“Clinical Appeal” Creates New Appeal in Bangladesh Rural Health
Not many women give birth at hospitals in Bangladesh, with only four in every 10 women delivering with the help of skilled hands. Postnatal care is also rare. But Suchitra Sutradhar is one of those few who, despite living in a remote village, gave birth at a facility and keeps coming to that centre for … Continued
Born On Time: New Canadian-led initiative tackles leading cause of child mortality
World Vision, Plan International Canada, Save the Children, the Government of Canada and Johnson & Johnson…
Expert online survey to inform new guidance for reporting neonatal infection research
Understanding the incidence, aetiology and pathogenesis of neonatal infections is essential to reduce neonatal mortality. To do this we need to improve the reporting of studies to be systematic, to include key elements, and to use standardised definitions.
India Slips Down Motherhood Index
Just 19% of women in the poorest section of Delhi’s population had a skilled attendant present when they were giving birth. Among the richest women in the city however, 99% had a trained person around when they were in labor.
‘Tale of Two Cities’ Widens Worldwide for Children, Study Shows
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.