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Time to Deliver: Series on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in sub-Saharan Africa

PLOS Medicine Maternal Newborn and Child Health Policy

In June PLoS Medicine launched a series on maternal, newborn and child health in sub-Saharan Africa. Two Policy Forums and an Editorial were published on June 21st to coincide with the Pacific Health Summit (a high profile meeting of decision-makers in science, policy, industry and medicine), which this year addresses the theme of maternal and newborn health.

The series is based on consultations with 60 scientists and policy makers from nine countries. It provides a snapshot of maternal, newborn, and child health in sub-Saharan Africa, review evidence-based solutions, and identify high-impact opportunities for reducing maternal and child mortality.

Image Credit: 300td.org

The first two articles analyse the current status of maternal, newborn, and child health in Africa, and identify which interventions hold the greatest potential in varying countries to prevent the nearly 4.7 million mothers, newborns, and children deaths that occur each year in sub-Saharan Africa. In the first article, Joy Lawn and colleagues outline where and why deaths among mothers and children occur and provide new data on the current coverage, quality, and equity in health interventions to prevent these deaths. In the second article, Robert Black and colleagues report on a priority setting analysis for 42 countries and indicate which interventions should be implemented to save mother’s and children’s lives now.

An Editorial, coinciding with the series, argues that action on maternal health must focus on increasing access to family planning resources as much as it does access to basic medical care.

Articles in the series will be published on a weekly basis until 13th July. This blog will provide a collection point for articles in the series, which will be listed below as they are published:

Published 21st June:

Joy Lawn and colleagues Sub-Saharan Africa’s Mothers, Newborns, and Children: Where and Why Do They Die? PLoS Med 7(6): e1000294. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000294

Robert Black and colleagues Sub-Saharan Africa’s Mothers, Newborns, and Children: How Many Lives Could Be Saved with Targeted Health Interventions? PLoS Med 7(6): e1000295. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000295

The PLoS Medicine Editors Maternal Health: Time to Deliver. PLoS Med 7(6): e1000300. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000300

Published 29th June:

Sara Bennett and Freddie Freddie Ssengooba Closing the Gaps: From Science to Action in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Africa. PLoS Med 7(6): e1000298. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000298

Published 6th July:

Valerie A. Snewin and colleagues Improving Implementation: Building Research Capacity in Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Africa. PLoS Med 7(7): e1000299 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000299

Published 13th July:

Igor Rudan and colleagues Evidence-Based Priority Setting for Health Care and Research: Tools to Support Policy in Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Africa. PLoS Med 7(7): e1000308. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000308

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