The aim of this skin care guideline is to provide evidence-based, contextualized guidelines for the care of full term, healthy neonatal skin. Complications in skin conditions and special populations, such as preterm and critically ill infants are outside the scope of this document. The content of this document was adapted and used with permission from […]
International KMC day is May 15th. It is high time that neonatal units started to review how they are implementing KMC and in particular ensuring Zero separation for mothers and babies. Last year an article was published on the Benefits of commencing immediate continuous KMC even in unstable babies. This research was so impactful that […]
While the more immediate benefits of KMC for small and sick newborns are well studied and supported by evidence, there is little evidence surrounding the benefits from KMC beyond infancy. Read this study which aimed to determine what, if any benefits, persisted in children beyond infancy who received KMC as a newborn.
WHO urges quality care for women and newborns in critical first weeks after childbirth.The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first ever global guidelines to support women and newborns in the postnatal period – the first six weeks after birth. The new guidelines bring together over 60 recommendations that can help shape a positive postnatal […]
Wealth, place of birth, coverage of care at birth, and, in some cultures, also the newborn’s gender greatly impact the risk of dying and the health outcome of a newborn. The most vulnerable newborns are those in marginalised groups, rural areas, urban slum environments, conflict areas, and humanitarian settings. Too many newborns have only limited […]
WHY? Evidence-based, high-quality treatment and care are provided in a timely, people-centred manner by a well-trained, specialised multidisciplinary team. Safe staffing levels improve health outcomes and enhance staff satisfaction. • Newborn health is closely linked to adequate numbers of qualified nurses and/or midwives working per shift in a newborn unit. • Multidisciplinary teams provide the […]
WHY? Having parents who are actively involved in the care of their newborn and who are in close physical and emotional contact with their baby as early after birth as possible and during hospitalisation can positively impact the short- and long-term outcome of their baby. This includes for example: less need for respiratory support, increased […]
The year 2021 has been unique in many ways as the global COVID-19 pandemic has continued to pose serious challenges to the political, economic, cultural, and social sectors in countries across the globe. It has repeatedly pushed healthcare systems to the brink of functionality – and in some cases even beyond. The pandemic has particularly […]
The year 2020 has been unique in many ways, leading us into a new decade posing serious challenges such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic or rising conflict and humanitarian crises, placing women, newborns, children, and adolescents at particular risks. Yet this is also the start of a new decade with new opportunities for babies to survive […]
You’re Invited AlignMNH: Collective Action for Maternal Newborn Health We are pleased to invite you to join us on Wednesday, November 18, from 8 to 10 a.m. EST / 3 to 5 p.m. CAT, for the launch of AlignMNH: Collective Action for Maternal Newborn Health. With only 10 years left to achieve Sustainable Development Goal era […]
COINN supports Zero separation campaign launched by EFCNI and GLANCE. In cooperation with its international network, the Global Alliance for Newborn Care (GLANCE) which is the global initiative of EFCNI, developed a long-term campaign to support parents of hospitalised newborns and healthcare professionals in neonatal care units with the aim to enable infant and family […]
The Every Newborn Action plan (ENAP) was launched in 2015. It set bold global targets to reduce neonatal mortality and Stillbirths to below 12/1000 births by 2030. Five years later how are we progressing? The past 30 years have seen remarkable progress in child survival and newborn health in all regions of the world. The […]
Please join COINN for their 1st ever Webinar on the 14th August. They will be addressing Covid-19 and its impact on neonates, families and staff. There will be presentations from WHO, COINN board members from around the world and our NNASA President Carin Marais. Please see the flyer below with information on how to join.
There has been progress towards targets but progress is now threatened by Covid-19, therefore it is critical to protect, maintain and expand MNH services to reach SDG goals by 2030. As can be seen in the image below-although newborns are less likely to die from COVID they are at increased risk for mortality from other […]
On behalf of the NNASA board we salute all those on the front-lines fighting COVID_19 and keeping our health system running. May God protect, strengthen and encourage you and fill you with His peace. We know you are being flooded with news via social media which may or may not be accurate so we thought […]
So in the midst of COVID-19’s devastating news we have some minor sad news: We have, for obvious reasons, had to postpone our National Conference-Purposeful Passion. The Good news is that you now have a year to finalise plans to attend next year and to submit your abstract so start saving and planning today. It […]
Its that time of year again. Our financial year ends at the end of February so annual fees are now due for 2020. Our membership fee remains the same at R300. On the 31st of March we will be debiting those of you with debit orders. For those of you who prefer doing it yourselves […]
As nurses it is crucial that we embrace data so that we can knowledgeably and confidently advocate for our babies. Below you will find a link to download a Fact sheet on South Africa’s progress toward the 2030 SDG targets. The Healthy Newborn Network has compiled all the latest data from multiple sources into one […]
A small but growing amount of evidence suggests that newborns also do not always receive respectful, evidence-based care, which could have lasting implications on their health, and discourage their families from seeking subsequent care. This is especially important for small and sick newborns, who are at the highest risk of morbidity and mortality. Newborns’ experiences […]
The transition to becoming a parent for the first time is a time of rapid changes (sexual debut, first pregnancy, marriage, first birth, learning to care for a newborn), often within the space of a year. Globally, about 13 million adolescent girls (ages 15-19) and many more young women (ages 20-24) become parents every year. […]
Envisage this – you are a neonatal nurse and you go to work in a busy neonatal unit. Here you find yourself the only nurse in that room for that shift – caring for all 45 babies sharing 30 cots as there are not enough cots for all the babies. Four of the babies are […]
High rates of avoidable maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in low-income and middle-income countries could be mitigated by improving quality of care. A Lancet Global Health Commission highlighted the need for high-quality health systems that improve health, and are valued, trusted, and responsive to dynamic population needs. Kruk and colleagues have called for health […]
Background In 2011, South Africa committed to promoting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for six months for all mothers, regardless of HIV status, in line with World Health Organization recommendations. This was a marked shift from earlier policies, and with it, average EBF rates increased from less than 10% in 2011 to 32% by 2016. Objectives The […]
Zir Chinar Kham, Afghanistan—In Ghutai’s third home delivery, her newborn struggled to breathe and died before help could be found. When the Afghan mother of two went into labor with her next child, she was determined that the outcome would be different. With the help of a neighbor, she made it 10 kilometers to her […]
Routine health information systems (RHIS), based on data reported by health facilities, are an important source of health statistics that feature prominently in national and subnational health plans and program. Multiple indicators generated by the RHIS data can be used to track national and subnational progress towards universal health coverage, often in combination with household […]
Manzou Diarra, born premature, is in good health thanks to kangaroo mother care. He is 4 months old. Photo credit: Amadou Keita, SSGI/Save the Children. Prematurity is one of the leading causes of newborn deaths. In Mali, 29% of neonatal deaths are due to babies born before 37 weeks of gestation (CHERG 2010). Kangaroo Mother […]
Children born too soon (preterm) or too small are at the highest risk of dying in utero, during birth and in the neonatal period, and also have increased health and development risks throughout their lifetime. Of the 2.5 million neonatal deaths in 2018, over 80% were born too small–of which two thirds are preterm and […]
An estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely, before 37 weeks of gestation, every year worldwide. Of those, about 5–6% are born extremely prematurely, before 28 weeks of gestation. Progress in the perinatal care of these babies has continued to improve outcomes in high-income countries. The British Association of Perinatal Medicine has issued new guidance, […]
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#WorldPrematurityDay #Health4all #RMC Women and adolescent girls have the right to decide whether, when and with whom they want to have children. #genderinequalities still impact the ability of women and girls to achieve good health outcomes and realize their human rights and full potential. Respectful care before, during and after pregnancy should become a standard. […]
Go purple! by wearing purple, lighting your home or office purple, light a purple candle in your window, inviting to a purple meal, or coming up with your own ways to turn the world purple for this day in support of preterm birth awareness. Share on social media with #WorldPrematurityDay. Hang up a sock-line with […]
@WorldPrematurityDay. The World Prematurity Day Facebook page www.facebook.com/worldprematurityday is the social media hub for this campaign and is designed to collect and share stories and news and spread messages about World Prematurity Day and preterm birth. We encourage participants to share preterm birth stories from around the world with a post or on this interactive […]
Two key reports from 2019 relating to World Prematurity Day include: The report “Nurturing Care for Small and Sick Newborns: Evidence Review and Country Case Studies” (bit.ly/2Vxgr9r) aims to summarize the evidence and best practices on nurturing care approaches for small and sick newborns focusing on core elements of developmentally supportive care, which is […]
#WorldPrematurityDay 140 million births per year – 2.5 million neonatal deaths annually! 1 million deaths per year are from #PretermBirth – the leading cause of under-5 child death worldwide. ( 47% of all under-five #child deaths happen during the first 28 days of life.) The most vulnerable babies are those in marginalized groups, rural areas, […]
#WorldPrematurity: Day #NurturingCare : Nurturing Care ensures the best start in life & will help babies survive & thrive. Simple, cost-effective ways to promote developmentally supportive care: gentle touch, skin-to-skin care, #kangaroocare, early #breastfeeding, age-appropriate stimulation and interaction, protection from noise and bright light, or nesting. Zero separation maintains infant-parent unity and protects the family […]
From Healthy Newborn Network. The positive impact of delayed cord clamping even on respiratory depressed babies. Background Experiments have shown improved cardiovascular stability in lambs if umbilical cord clamping is postponed until positive pressure ventilation is started. Studies on intact cord resuscitation on human term infants are sparse. The purpose of this study was to […]
World Prematurity Day is an opportunity to call attention to the heavy burden of death and disability and the pain and suffering that preterm birth causes. It is also a chance to talk about solutions. The multitude of events organized around the globe on World Prematurity Day remain the heart of the effort. Each year, […]
This resource has just been released. One of NNASA’s board was a contributing author. Click below to access the document.
The World Health Statistics series is the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) annual compilation of health statistics for its 194 Member States. The series is produced by WHO’s Division for Data, Analytics and Delivery, in collaboration with WHO technical departments and regional offices. World health statistics 2019 summarizes recent trends and levels in life expectancy and causes of […]
This years’s theme is Born too Soon: Providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place. See the Message map above for key messages to include in your WPD advocacy and activities.
A neonatal research article from SA. Background Multi-drug resistant organisms are an increasingly important cause of neonatal sepsis. Aim This study aimed to review neonatal sepsis caused by multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDRE) in neonates in Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods This was a cross sectional retrospective review of MDRE in neonates admitted to a tertiary neonatal unit between […]
Background Child rearing practices and family environment determine the health of newborn. Harmful newborn care practices are the risk factors for late onset neonatal sepsis. The objective was to identify newborn practices related to breastfeeding, cord care, hygiene of newborn and thermal care practice at home of admitted neonates with diagnosis Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis in pediatric unit of B.P. […]
From Healthy Newborn Network: How do we prevent and manage preterm birth? This tool can give us a structured approach. The preterm continuum of care matrix is a comprehensive listing of evidence-based services and interventions. Interventions for care of women in preterm labor and those targeting care of the preterm/LBW newborn are aligned with the […]
From Health Newborn network: Out of nine pregnancies, Anna Bondo had suffered seven stillbirths, each one a crushing heartbreak. Every loss came as a result of premature labour, the 43-year-old told UNFPA. Last month, pregnant for the tenth time, Ms. Bondo once again went into an early labour. She immediately feared the worst. “I was downhearted;’ […]
We trust your plans for WPD 2019 are well underway? Please share pictures from your day with other NNASA members via our Facebook site. We hope the resources below will help you in your advocacy and awareness campaigns in your hospitals. Share with your colleagues, PRO officers and the public. Background World Prematurity Day is […]
From healthy Newborn Network: Newborns’ care experiences have a lasting impact: they feel pain and discomfort, and can experience emotional distress, particularly when separated from their families. We invite you to share far and wide the landmark Respectful Maternity Charter recently launched . This updated charter further clarifies and clearly articulates the rights of women and newborns […]
Defined levels of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) and standardised measurement of “signal functions” has improved tracking of maternal care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Levels of newborn care, particularly for small and sick newborns, and associated signal functions are still not consistently defined or tracked. Read more below.. https://www.healthynewbornnetwork.org/resource/categorising-interventions-to-levels-of-inpatient-care-for-small-and-sick-newborns-findings-from-a-global-survey/
An estimated 14.8 million babies are born preterm every year, before 37 completed weeks of gestation.1 Of these, around a million die because of direct complications,2 another 912 000 have mild to severe neurodevelopmental impairment, and many more have milder disabilities or suboptimal child development.3 A preterm baby’s chance of survival and development depends largely on where they live with […]
Neonatal deaths now account for 47% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years globally. More than a third of newborn deaths are due to preterm birth complications, which is the leading cause of death. Understanding the causes and factors contributing to neonatal deaths is needed to identify interventions that will reduce mortality. We aimed […]
Evidence shows that breastfeeding has many health, human capital and future economic benefits for young children, their mothers and countries. The new Cost of Not Breastfeeding tool, based on open access data, was developed to help policy-makers and advocates have information on the estimated human and economic costs of not breastfeeding at the country, regional and global […]
Only three African countries are expected to meet the global target for exclusive breastfeeding, “an unparalleled source of nutrition for newborns and infants, no matter where they are born,” according to a global health expert. The three nations, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe, are singled out in a new study from the Institute for Health Metrics […]
Catalytic progress fostered by Saving Newborn Lives and other programs helped put newborn health solidly on the global policy agenda. As we celebrate progress, let’s also redouble our efforts to address the unfinished newborn health agenda. We invite you to read the recently released Newborn Health Legacy, a timeline illustrating some of the important milestones in the newborn […]
Reducing neonatal mortality is an essential part of the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), to end preventable child deaths. Between 1990 and 2017, the global NMR decreased by 51% from 36·6 deaths per 1000 livebirths in 1990, to 18·0 deaths per 1000 livebirths in 2017. Between 2018 and 2030, it is projected that 27·8 million children will […]
More mothers are attending health facilities to deliver their babies, yet 2.6 million babies are stillborn every year, more than a third (42%) of those in Sub-Saharan Africa. What approaches can we apply to prevent stillbirths? Pregnancy should be a time of joyful anticipation about the arrival of a new family member. But each year, […]
On the 15th of May we celebrated International KMC awareness day. We hope you all held special events at your hospital or took the KMC challenge? Click the link below to access resources to support implementation of KMC in your facility. International Kangaroo Mother Care Awareness Day 2019
Low birthweight (LBW) of less than 2500g is an important marker of maternal and fetal health, predicting mortality, stunting, and adult-onset chronic conditions. Global nutrition targets set at the World Health Assembly in 2012 include an ambitious 30% reduction in LBW prevalence between 2012 and 2025. Estimates to track progress towards this target are lacking. […]
As management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) advances, clinicians must continually revise their current practice. Find a link below for the fourth update of “European Guidelines for the Management of RDS” by a European panel of experienced neonatologists and an expert perinatal obstetrician based on available literature up to the end of 2018. Optimising outcome […]
A research group based at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust – Kenya and Oxford University has developed a free smartphone app for training health workers called “LIFE” which was launched during the Kenya Paediatric Association 2019 annual conference in Mombasa, Kenya. The Life-saving Instruction for Emergencies (LIFE) smartphone app uses interactive 3D simulations of life-threatening emergencies to train healthcare workers to save lives. […]
For babies who are born healthy, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends to delay cord clamping . It means that the umbilical cord is not clamped immediately after birth but after waiting one to three minutes. That way, the baby is still connected to the placenta and receives oxygen rich blood and essential nutrients. However, […]
#NewbornHealthReloaded The European Standards for Newborn health were launched at the end of 2018 with a call to action. 220 health professionals and parent organisations from 30 countries were involved in developing the standards which cover 11 broad themes from birth through to ongoing infant and family centred care. An information booklet on the standards […]
We recently came across an interesting leadership book-The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner. It sets out 5 Practices and 10 Commitments for exemplary leadership. We challenge you to ask yourself how many of the 10 commitments you meet as a leader? It might be food for thought and prompt revision of your leadership style?! […]
Nigeria’s ‘Flying Midwives’ Are Helping Save Moms and Babies Nigeria is a risky place to give birth. Around 58,000 mothers die in childbirth in Nigeria every year, and 240,000 newborns within 28 days of birth. Despite being the wealthiest country in Africa by GDP, it ranks fourth in maternal mortality globally. But the situation is […]
Early total enteral feeding – An effective intervention to improve outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates in resource limited settings. Early appropriate nutrition and infection prevention are vital for the survival of a preterm infant. These issues are interconnected when delayed enteral feeds leads to intravenous intervention, which can result in infection. Read […]
Improving access to relevant, reliable and evidence-based healthcare information has enormous potential to radically improve healthcare and outcomes worldwide. NNASA and COINN are active participants in this forum. We recommend you read the article below about its work and considering joining. Its free! https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000352
Factors Impacting Practice of Home Kangaroo Mother Care with Low Birth Weight Infants Following Hospital Discharge To identify enablers and barriers related to home Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) adoption after hospital discharge. Read more here: Factors Impacting Practice of Home Kangaroo Mother Care with Low Birth Weight Infants Following Hospital Discharge
As members of NNASA you are also members of the Healthy Newborn Network. Over the next few days we will be highlighting a few articles/resources from their recent newsletter. Up first: Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit – An Online Resource for Breastfeeding Promotion and Support This month’s launch of the Collective’s Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit marks the release of an […]
WHO has been made aware of multiple, recent reports of eye injury, including blindness, with the use of chlorhexidine gluconate 7.1%, in nine countries in sub Saharan Africa. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), available as an aqueous solution or as a gel (delivering 4% chlorhexidine), is used in umbilical cord care, and is listed in the WHO […]
From 13 to 15 November this year, the International Babyfood Action Network will host the Third World Breastfeeding Conference and the First World Complementary Feeding Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Additional activities are organized on 11 and 12 November. The languages used at the conference will be English, Spanish and Portuguese. For more information […]
Our Gauteng branch is excited and ready for 2019! Well done ladies! See the dates of their planned branch meetings below and pop them in your diary now. 2 March 25 May 17 August 16 November Let us know if you have any suggested speakers, topics or new ideas. Hope to see a lot of […]
30 million newborns require specialized or intensive care in a hospital every year. Small and sick #newborn survival is the biggest unfinished agenda for ending preventable child deaths. It is urgent, and possible, to close this survival gap meeting our SDG targets. Caring for small and sick babies is crucial for reducing deaths, disability, stunting, […]
1.7 million newborn lives could be saved each year by investing in access to quality care for every newborn, everywhere, including in humanitarian settings. While essential newborn care would benefit small and sick newborns, adding special and intensive care services for them would reduce neonatal mortality by almost 50%. It would also promote child development […]
Ensuring zero separation of a mother and her baby and providing a positive environment increases a #newborn’s ability to thrive. Empowered parents and caregivers are crucial for short and long-term success, which in turn benefit individuals, communities and countries entirely. Learn more from @WHO and @UNICEF report: bit.ly/care4everynewborn #EveryChildAlive #EWECisme #EveryNewborn
A NNASA board member was a contributing author to the international Survive and Thrive: Transforming Care for Every Small and Sick Newborn Key Findings report- in particular aspects of the report focusing on the important role parents can play in optimizing outcomes for their newborn. #EveryNewborn can and will thrive as productive members of our societies, […]
Today, in New Delhi India, the international Partner’s Forum (The partnership for Maternal Child and Woman’s Health) meeting has just opened. The meeting, hosted by the Government of India, brings together more than 1,200 partners dedicated to the Every Woman Every Child movement, including country policy makers, global experts and leaders in health and development, […]
An estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. Approximately 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth (1). Many survivors face a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems.