Direct maternal infections around the time of childbirth account for about one tenth of the
global burden of maternal death. Women who experience peripartum infections are also
prone to severe morbidity and long-term disabilities such as chronic pelvic pain, fallopian
tube blockage and secondary infertil...
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is commonly defined as a blood loss of at least 500 mL within 24 hours after birth and affects about 5% of all women giving birth around the world. Globally, nearly one quarter of all maternal deaths are associated with PPH and, in most low-income countries, it is the main ca...
The postnatal period, defined here as the period beginning immediately after the birth of the baby and extending
up to six weeks (42 days), is a critical time for women, newborns, partners, parents, caregivers and families. Yet,
during this period, the burden of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbid...
This publication on WHO recommendations related to newborn health is one of four in a series; the others relate to maternal, child and adolescent health. The objective of this document is to make available WHO recommendations on newborn health in one easy-to-access document for WHO staff, policy-makers, ...
This Handbook focuses on counselling and communicating with women, their families and communities to promote the health of mothers and newborns. When we talk about counselling in this book we are talking about counselling for maternal and newborn health specifically, and this is explored in more detail i...
The first hours, days and weeks after childbirth are a dangerous time for both mother and newborn
infant. Among the more than 500 000 women who die each year due to complications of pregnancy
and childbirth (1), most deaths occur during or immediately after childbirth (2). Every year three
million infant...
Every year, about 3.7 million babies die in the first four weeks of life (2004 estimates). Most of these newborns are born in developing countries and most die at home. Up to two-thirds of these deaths can be prevented if mothers and newborns receive known, effective interventions. A strategy that promot...
