Date: October 26, 2021
Every 16 seconds, a family loses a child to stillbirth. The months they spent planning for their baby, feeling the baby grow and move, imagining their family’s future—cut short, and often without explanation from a health system ill-equipped to provide the respectful, compassionate bereavement care families deserve. Acknowledging that these… Read More
Date: October 7, 2021
The mental health of women during the perinatal period impacts women themselves, their children, their families and their communities. But for too long, mental health has been secondary to physical health despite the increasing evidence of the burden of mental health on morbidity and mortality. And the burden is not… Read More
Date: September 17, 2021
Mary Atta-Boisson found out she was pregnant and a stark new reality eclipsed her plans to finish high school and pursue a career. Young and alone, without a partner’s support, the 18-year-old feared disgrace and homelessness. She also faced the real prospect of giving birth during a global pandemic, as… Read More
Date: July 13, 2021
Why is Care of Low Birthweight Infants Crucial? Every year, approximately 20 million babies—15% of all births—are born with low birthweight (LBW). Over 70% of all newborn deaths occur in this vulnerable group. Interventions to reduce mortality in LBW infants are crucial if countries are to attain the Sustainable Development… Read More
Date: June 21, 2021
On June 20th, the international community observes World Refugee Day, a day to highlight the voices of the approximately 80 million people, including women and children, who are forced to flee their homes because of violence, war, persecution, or natural disaster, as well as those who serve them. Around the world, midwives, nurses, community health workers, physicians and health care professionals devote their lives – and sometimes risk their safety – to deliver quality, lifesaving care to mothers and newborns. Read More
Date: April 15, 2021
In this post, Gagan Gupta, Maternal and Newborn Health Specialist at UNICEF, explores the provision of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gupta highlights the need for countries to use data to drive evidence-based solutions in building resilience during the pandemic recovery. Read More
Date: April 7, 2021
In this post, Femi Oladapo, Head of the maternal and Perinatal Health Unit at the World Health Organization, discusses the latest research on the use of antenatal corticosteroids for improving survival of preterm babies. Read More
Date: March 24, 2021
Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng is a medical doctor, sexual and reproductive health rights expert, and AlignMNH Steering Committee member. Her expertise spans public health, comprehensive sexuality education, training and facilitation, and content production. She is a board member of several initiatives including the Safe Abortion Action Fund and the Global Advisory… Read More
Date: March 24, 2021
Only two decades ago, for every 1,000 live births, about 3.4 women and 52 babies died late in pregnancy or during the neonatal period. We have since witnessed an impressive decline in maternal and newborn mortality to an estimated 2.1 women and 31 late fetal and newborn deaths. And because… Read More
Date: March 9, 2021
Each year, nearly two million infants are stillborn, and almost as many children die within their first month of life as do within their first five years. And, despite a decline in maternal mortality over the past decades, there were still nearly 300,000 maternal deaths in 2017, most of them… Read More
