Interventions to prevent maternal and child deaths

A new global study into maternal and newborn health has revealed some of the key interventions that could be used to prevent deaths among mothers and children.

Entitled Essential Interventions, Commodities and Guidelines for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, was researched by the World Health Organization, the Aga Khan University in London and The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.

The three-year investigation found there are 56 evidence-based interventions that could reduce the number of women who die during pregnancy, as well as the amount of children who die before the age of five.

Some of these include providing immediate thermal care for newborns, managing maternal anaemia with iron and managing post-partum haemorrhage.

Director of WHO's department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Elizabeth Mason said: 

"The research involved building consensus among physicians, scientists and professional organisations to lay out an evidenced-based path to help women before, during and after birth and their children".