Birth is a time of great risk for death: an estimated 717,000 newborns die each year during birth, and an additional 1.2 million stillbirths result from birth-related complications. In addition, a significant proportion of the world’s 287,000 annual maternal deaths occur during childbirth.
Up to 10% of newborns require some assistance to begin breathing at birth, but fewer than 1% require advanced measures, such as the use of cardiac massage, intubation, and medications.
Appropriate care through labor and at the time of birth with access to emergency obstetric care, essential and extra newborn care, and neonatal resuscitation are proven to be effective in preventing or managing intrapartum-related complications.
Every skilled birth attendant should be able to perform interventions that prevent asphyxia and to resuscitate a non-breathing baby; however, the level of professional expertise among birth attendants in performing these interventions varies widely, even in large public hospitals in cities.
There is a global effort to improvement providers’ resuscitation skills and ensure that health facilities are equipped to manage birth asphyxia in timely manner.