Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...

Reference Manual
INTRODUCTION
While there has been a significant decrease in the mortality of children over the years, it has
occurred mostly among infants and in children from one to five years of age. The mortality in the
short but critical neonatal period (the first four weeks) still remains high and has not followed the
same declining trend. Globally, an estimated four million deaths occur in these four weeks, with
a similar number of stillbirths. During the past decade, a considerable amount of interest has
been focused on newborns, with increased advocacy in this area leading to a number of
operational research projects and programs.
FOUR MILLION NEONATAL DEATHS: WHERE DO THEY OCCUR?
4 Million Deaths:
Where do newborn babies die?
1.1 million (28% of all
newborn deaths)
occur in Sub Saharan
Africa
1.5 million (38% of all
newborn deaths)
occur in 4 countries
of South Asia
Lancet series, 2005
99% of newborn deaths are in low/middle income countries 4
66% in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia
Figure Intro. 1. Where do newborns die?
Reprinted with permission from Elsevier (The Lancet, 2005, Vol 365, pg. 13)
Integrated maternal and newborn care
Basic skills course
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