Joy Lawn

..Accelerating progress requires data-driven investments and addressing context-specific implementation realities...

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..This study aimed to evaluate its in-hospital and continued practice in the community among mothers of low birth weight (LBW) infants discharged from two hospitals in Kumasi, Ghana...

..Our objective was to estimate the effect of various childbirth care packages on neonatal mortality due to intrapartum-related events ("birth asphyxia") in term babies for use in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST)...

..Annually over 520,000 newborns die from neonatal sepsis, and 60,000 more from tetanus. Estimates of the effect of clean birth and postnatal care practices are required for evidence-based program planning...

..Globally syphilis is an important yet preventable cause of stillbirth, neonatal mortality and morbidity...

..We have estimated the effect of providing oral, or injectable antibiotics at home or in first-level facilities, and of in-patient hospital care on neonatal mortality from pneumonia and sepsis for use in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST)...

..03 million from complications of prematurity. No systematic assessment of mortality reduction from tactile stimulation or resuscitation has been published...

..This information will guide efforts to prevent stillbirths and improve quality of care...

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..As well as a research pipeline, a "people pipeline" is required to generate research capacity in low-income countries...

..Each year 1.02 million intrapartum stillbirths and 904,000 intrapartum-related neonatal deaths (formerly called "birth asphyxia") occur, closely linked to 536,000 maternal deaths, an estimated 42% of which are intrapartum-related...

..This first paper in the series outlines issues in stillbirth data availability and quality, the global epidemiology of stillbirths, and describes the methodology and framework used for the review of interventions and strategies...

..If neonatal deaths remain uncounted, they cannot count in policy and in programmes...

..7 to 1.2 million. Estimates for intrapartum stillbirths are not available. We aimed to estimate the numbers of intrapartum-related neonatal deaths and intrapartum stillbirths in the year 2000...

..Whilst increasingly accepted in both high- and low-income countries, a Cochrane review (2003) did not find evidence of KMC's mortality benefit, and did not report neonatal-specific data...

..A critical step is improving the quantity, quality and use of data to select and implement the most effective interventions and strengthen existing programs, especially at district level...

..A new focus on all deaths around the time of birth is crucial to inform programmatic investment...

..While we neglect these challenges, 450 newborn children die every hour, mainly from preventable causes, which is unconscionable in the 21st century...

..There are promising models that have been tested mainly in research studies in Asia that are now being adapted and evaluated at scale including through a network of African implementation research trials...

..CONCLUSION: Lack of adequate data hampers visibility, effective policies, and research. Immediate opportunities exist to improve data tracking and reduce the burden of preterm birth and stillbirth...

..The major burden is in low-income settings, where health system capacity to provide neonatal resuscitation is inadequate...

..Up-to-date information on the causes of child deaths is crucial to guide global efforts to improve child survival. We report new estimates for 2008 of the major causes of death in children younger than 5 years...

..The burden of NTDs in low-income countries and the effectiveness of folic acid fortification/supplementation are unclear...

..Complex statistical models are not a panacea. Representative data with comparable case definitions and consistent hierarchical cause-of-death attribution are required...

..Reports are published and commitments are made, but is there real progress? Are poor people being reached with essential health care? Who will hold leaders to account: celebrities, activists or health professionals?..

..The costs are affordable and the key gap is leadership and effective implementation at every level of the health system, including national and local accountability for service provision...

..However, although >1 million deaths due to preterm birth occur annually, antenatal steroids are not routine practice in low-income countries where most of these deaths occur...

..Revitalisng Alma-Ata and learning from three decades of experience is crucial to reach the ambitious goal of health for all in all countries, both rich and poor...

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..Audit is powerful, but only if the data lead to action...

..The South African Government, installed in April, 2009, has the mandate and potential to address the public health emergencies facing the country--will they do so or will another opportunity and many more lives be lost?..

..Here we assess the cost of delivering these interventions, and discuss whether the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for child survival falls within the financial capacities of donors and developing countries...

..We aimed to report on 68 countries which have 97% of maternal and child deaths worldwide, and on 22 interventions that have been proven to improve maternal, newborn, and child survival...

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..The introduction of large-scale programmes for community health workers requires evaluation to document the impact on child survival and cost effectiveness and to elucidate factors associated with success and sustainability...

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..Improving stillbirth data is the first step towards making stillbirths count in public-health action...

..Progress should be measured and accountability assured. We prioritise research questions and suggest actions and measures for stakeholders both locally and globally, which are required to revitalise primary health care...

..More detailed analysis and evaluation within and across countries would be invaluable in guiding investments for primary health care, and expediting progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and "health for all"...

..Monitoring progress and effect is essential to refining strategies. National aims to reduce neonatal deaths should be set, and interventions incorporated into national plans and existing programmes...