Technical Areas
Birth Preparation, Including Nutrition Promotion and Infection Control
Birth preparation actively involves the community in recognizing
the need for skilled care for all births and advocating qualified personnel,
24-hour service, and culturally acceptable care. Preparation for reaching essential
obstetric and newborn care in the event of pregnancy and birth complications,
newborn health emergency is promoted while recognizing that in many cultures
a strong preference for home
birth
remains. Acknowledging that most births occur at home, USAID's neonatal health
activities prioritize postpartum care in the home soon after birth to address
the immediate needs of both mother and newborn. Appropriate behavior change
communications programs are implemented to encourage good self
care
including
hygiene, sanitation,
nutrition,
condom
and bed net use, and avoidance of toxins (alcohol, nicotine, etc.) that can
be harmful to the developing fetus.
Community-based maternal and newborn care interventions are
encouraged to prepare families for emergencies that happen away from a health
center or hospital. Community-based maternal health interventions have included
teaching families and entire communities how to recognize birth complications
and where to bring a mother for emergency care. Activities might include pre-identifying
transportation to a hospital, identifying a blood donor for the mother, and
a savings plan for health care costs. Community-based newborn care interventions
are similar, teaching and promoting emergency and non-emergency planning activities
for care of the child once it is born. Activities might include pre-arranging
a postpartum care visit by a skilled provider either in the home or health
facility to check if the mother and baby are well.
In addition, USAID supports evidence-based high quality prenatal care. This
includes advocacy and technical support for feeding the mother and supplementation
with essential micronutrients. Infection prevention and control includes,
as appropriate, tetanus toxoid immunization, HIV/AIDS prevention services
for mother during and after pregnancy, prevention
of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV,
intermittent treatment for malaria,
detection and treatment of syphilis, and treatment for helminths.
Related Links
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