A study of over 300,000 UK births found that many new mothers miss their scheduled postnatal check-ups, with younger women and those from deprived areas being the least likely to attend. This gap in care can have serious consequences for women's physical and mental health.
A new study finds community-based health programs improved healthcare for mothers and newborns in rural Nigeria, Ethiopia and India but inequities persist. Despite progress, many newborns still lack early postnatal care.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect up to 14% of women in their lifetimes, leading to adverse outcomes for mothers and babies. Integrated care approaches, including screenings in primary care clinics, NICU, and ED, are being implemented to help women with PMADs receive timely treatment.
The Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guideline provides recommendations for promptly diagnosing and treating CAH throughout a patient's life. It emphasizes shared decision-making among patients, families, and healthcare professionals for the management of the disorder.
The 2014 Ebola outbreak had a significant impact on Liberia's healthcare system, with a 67.3% drop in clinic visits and 35.2% decrease in first ANC visits four months into the outbreak. However, health system outputs began rebounding by November 2016, with all systems exceeding pre-Ebola forecasted trends for three consecutive months.
The Canadian guideline provides comprehensive management guidance for congenital diaphragmatic hernia from pregnancy through the teen years. Long-term observation and management are key recommendations, emphasizing interdisciplinary team care.
A research team at NUS developed an app to deliver postnatal educational programmes and provide supportive care on-the-go. The 'Home-but-not-alone' app improved parenting confidence, perceived social support, and satisfaction among new parents, highlighting a gap in existing postnatal care in Singapore.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has been awarded the Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development Award to scale up use of the Pratt Pouch in Uganda. The model aims to reach 40,000 infants in three years with the goal of significantly reducing HIV transmission rates.
A new study found that a substantial proportion of women globally do not stay in health facilities long enough after giving birth, resulting in inadequate postnatal care. The average length of stay varies greatly across countries, with some women staying as little as 0.5 days or as long as 6.2 days.
A University of Illinois study reveals that parents and child-care providers forming a partnership benefits the child's development during the transition from home to child care. Factors such as child temperament and maternal depressive symptoms influence the ease or difficulty of this transition.
A recent study found that midwife-led maternity care is as safe as consultant-led care and results in less intervention, with women expressing higher satisfaction rates. The average cost of caring for a woman in midwife-led units was €182 less than in consultant-led units.
A study of extremely preterm infants found changes in maternal and infant care practices resulting in improved survival rates. Survival without major health problems increased significantly for infants born at 25-28 weeks.
Researchers developed a new method to analyze brainstorms in premature babies, which correlates with their cognitive development at age two. The study uses mathematical functions and software component to analyze EEG signals, providing objective data on brain function in very premature babies.
A systematic review found that postnatal care services are under-utilized in low- and middle-income countries due to lack of accessibility, affordability, and education. Governments can prevent 289,000 maternal deaths and 2.9 million newborn deaths by increasing access to postnatal care services.
A new Australian study has found that women who give birth in a public hospital are more confident parents compared to those who have private births. The study found that public hospitals provide more after-hospital health care, leading to increased maternal satisfaction and confidence as new parents.
A study published in Advances in Wound Care highlights the promising role of interleukin-10 in scarless wound healing. Researchers found that IL-10 enables fetal skin to heal without scars, providing a potential therapeutic agent for anti-scarring treatments.
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Health is scaling up an essential obstetric and newborn care (EONC) model, improving maternal and newborn health services across the country. The model, piloted in Cotopaxi province, has yielded significant improvements in practices to improve the health of mothers and newborns.
A study by Michigan State University found that participation in a Medicaid-eligible pregnant women's program leads to improved health care during pregnancy and after birth. Women in the program had 25% more postnatal visits than those not enrolled, promoting healthy pregnancies and infant outcomes.
Some of the world's poorest countries have cut maternal and young child mortality rates by half or more, according to a new report from Countdown to 2015. Remarkable progress has been achieved in expanding programs to prevent HIV transmission and vaccinate children against life-threatening illnesses.
A 70-million-year-old nest containing 15 juvenile Protoceratops dinosaurs has been discovered in Mongolia, revealing new insights into postnatal development and parental care. The analysis suggests that the young dinosaurs remained in the nest for an extended period and were cared for by their parents.
Tens of billions committed globally to improve the health of women and children, with over $11 billion from poorest countries. The Every Woman, Every Child effort aims to reduce death tolls and improve health outcomes through policy and service delivery commitments.
A community-based maternal health delivery strategy, MOM, implemented in eastern Burma improved access to antenatal and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants, and family planning. The project increased women's participation in these services by up to tenfold, with modern contraception use rising from 24% to 45%.
Two new articles analyze the current status of maternal, newborn, and child health in Africa, identifying interventions that hold the greatest potential for preventing maternal and child deaths. The studies conclude that prioritizing high-impact outreach interventions could save millions of lives and cost an estimated $1.21 per capita.
In eastern Burma, over 88% of women had home deliveries, with displaced women facing up to 5 times less antenatal care. Human rights violations, including displacement and forced labor, exacerbate poor health outcomes. The study highlights the need for increased access to maternal healthcare services in conflict-affected regions.
A recent study found that nearly 90% of women in eastern Burma gave birth at home without a skilled attendant present, while only a third had any antenatal or postnatal care. The research also revealed high rates of anemia, malaria, and poor nutrition among the population.
A community-based program that reinforces basic childbirth and newborn care practices reduced neonatal mortality by 54% in rural India. The program, which included culturally relevant messages and skin-to-skin care, was found to significantly reduce infant deaths within the first month of life.
A community-based intervention package reduced neonatal mortality by 54% and 52% in two groups, respectively. The approach targets high-risk newborn-care practices and can be applied to behaviour change along the continuum of care.
A homecare birth strategy significantly reduces neonatal mortality in Bangladeshi communities with weak health systems. The study found that the home-care approach was cost-effective, with a cost per neonatal death averted of $2995.
A report by The Lancet reveals that only 16 of the 68 priority countries are on track to meet the MDG4 and MDG5 targets, with many more experiencing no progress or reversals. Investments in immunization have led to rapid increases in coverage for routine services.
A team of doctors at the University of Bonn performed the first-ever prenatal surgery to treat premature rupture of the fetal membrane. The operation successfully stimulated lung growth in Miriam, who was born after five days with almost doubled lung volume. Her case will be published in Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy on October 29th.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus can be eliminated with effective action, including vaccination and proper care practices. However, sustaining elimination may require improvements in immunization and health services.
A large-scale study identified three key areas of stress faced by new mothers: their maternal role, negative physical and lifestyle changes, and lack of social support. The study also found that personal factors such as tiredness, lack of sleep, and decreasing social activity were major concerns.
Researchers analyzed care in US, Australia, Canada, and UK to find similar survival rates for low-birth-weight babies. The US spent more on neonatal intensive care but less on reproductive and prenatal care.
A UK study found that a new model of community postnatal care, tailored to individual needs and led by midwives, resulted in a 40% reduction in the risk of probable depression at 4 months after childbirth. Physical health scores did not differ between groups.