Africa can’t let maternity care slide during the coronavirus pandemic

The Conversation HNN Team

This article was originally published by The Conversation Amid global commitments to defeat, or at least minimise, the pervasive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the African continent remains unclear. African governments have moved quickly to mobilise resources and strengthen their emergency preparedness and response capacities. But particular attention needs to be paid to the most … Continued

Estimating the potential impact of COVID-19 on mothers and newborns in low- and middle-income countries

Medium.com HNN Team

This article was originally published by Health Policy Plus As COVID-19 spreads, wealthy countries are struggling with an influx of patients requiring screening, testing, and intensive care. In addition to national calls for social distancing, providers cancelled elective surgeries, shifted to virtual care where possible, and set up temporary hospitals to handle increasing demand. Countries … Continued

A digital response to help ensure safer childbirths during COVID-19

HNN Team

A new initiative launched today by Maternity Foundation, University of Copenhagen and Laerdal Global Health in collaboration with International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, uses a digital tool to equip midwives in low-resource settings to protect themselves, mothers and newborns from the Coronavirus and to ensure that … Continued

Pregnant in a pandemic: how will coronavirus affect me and my baby?

The Guardian HNN Team

This article was originally published by The Guardian A recurrent anxiety terror keeps flashing intrusively through my head: I’m in the throes of labor, surrounded by masked strangers, and I don’t recognize a single face around me. This vision began three weeks ago, when I first realized that this pandemic was rearranging my pregnancy into a … Continued

No evidence found for SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission to fetus

Physician's Briefing, Healthy Day HNN Team

This article was originally published by the Physician’s Briefing There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 undergoes intrauterine or transplacental transmission from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-infected pregnant women to fetuses, according to a study published online March 17 in the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. David A. Schwartz, M.D., from the Medical College of Georgia … Continued

Malaria progress stall continues, but more pregnant women and kids protected

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy HNN Team

This article was originally published by CIDRAP Though progress against malaria continues to stall, mainly due to funding gaps, the World Health Organization (WHO) in its annual report today highlighted a promising development: more pregnant women and children were protected against the disease. In the report, based on 2018 data, the WHO estimates there were … Continued

More pregnant women and children protected from malaria, but accelerated efforts and funding needed to reinvigorate global response, WHO report shows

Relief Web HNN Team

This article was originally published by Reliefweb The number of pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets and benefiting from preventive medicine for malaria has increased significantly in recent years, according to the World Health Organization’s World malaria report 2019. However, accelerated efforts are needed to reduce infections and deaths … Continued

Surviving birth: Every 11 seconds, a pregnant woman or newborn dies somewhere around the world

UNICEF HNN Team

This article was originally published by UNICEF here. An estimated 2.8 million pregnant women and newborns die every year, or 1 every 11 seconds, mostly of preventable causes, according to new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Division, UNFPA and the World Bank Group. For mothers and … Continued

Detección temprana de discapacidad

Fundación Saldarriaga Concha Colombia HNN Team

This article was originally published by Fundación Saldarriaga Concha here. Este artículo fue publicado originalmente por la Fundación Saldarriaga Concha aquí. El presidente Iván Duque presentó la Ley de tamizaje neonatal, con la cual se establece que a todo recién nacido vivo se le realizará mínimamente un tamizaje neonatal básico, auditivo y visual, y progresivamente, … Continued

Birth defects registries expanding in Latin America

PAHO/WHO HNN Team

This article was originally published by PAHO here. Twelve Latin American countries already monitor children who are born with congenital birth defects in order to better understand why and how often they occur, and how the survival and quality of life of these children can be improved. Birth defects are the second leading cause of … Continued