Maternal mortality dropping but still unacceptably high - new estimates
16 May 2012 - WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank issue new global, regional and country estimates of maternal mortality. Although between 1990 and 2010, maternal mortality worldwide dropped by 47%, still every day, around 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Almost all of these deaths occurr in low-resource settings. The updated estimates use available national data on maternal mortality to characterize levels and trends of maternal mortality for 180 countries. This analysis involves a larger dataset than previous rounds and updates estimates for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010.
Born too soon: first report on preterm birth
2 May 2012 - Every year 15 million babies are born preterm (more than 1 in 10 live births); more than 1 million die due to preterm complications. Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths and the second leading cause of death in children under 5, after pneumonia. Two thirds of the more than 1 million babies who die annually as a result of being born too soon could be saved if current cost-effective interventions were made available to all. This first-ever report on preterm birth is a joint effort of almost 50 international, regional and national organizations, and the estimates of preterm birth levels and trends presented reflect the collaborative work of WHO/RHR/HRP, Save the Children, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Pre-procedure use of misoprostol reduces complications of early surgical abortion
8 March 2012 - Findings from a study by HRP and partners show that women who have their cervixes dilated with misoprostol in preparation for early surgical abortion have a significantly lower overall risk of a complication from the procedure than those receiving placebo. The decrease in complications was primarily that of incomplete abortion, but there was also a reduction in unscheduled clinic visits and hospital admissions after the procedure. When induced abortion is performed by qualified persons using correct techniques and in sanitary conditions complications are rare.
Assisted vaginal delivery device winner in “Saving Lives at Birth” challenge
A new low-cost device (Odon Device) for delivery of the fetus during prolonged second stage labour has been selected by the Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development programme. This innovative device may be safer and easier to apply than forceps/vacuum extractor for assisted deliveries, and a safe alternative to some caesarean sections in settings with limited surgical capacity and human resource constraints.
