What are some key interventions to reduce newborn mortality?
Globally, four out of five newborn deaths result from three preventable and treatable conditions: preterm birth, infections, and complications during childbirth, including asphyxia.
The good news is there are specific care practices and interventions that, when effectively adopted at high coverage, can substantially reduce the burden of newborn deaths. These high-impact behaviors and technical interventions range from easy-to-apply antibiotics to ensuring the baby is kept warm to initiating breastfeeding at birth. The challenges to effectively delivering these interventions include the need for contextually appropriate delivery strategies, adequate resources (human and infrastructure), and sufficiently robust support systems.