Publications

Zambia, like many other countries within the African region, is characterized by high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. In recognition of this situation, several policy and planning efforts have been made to prioritize maternal, newborn, and child health in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Addressing newborn health is a catalyst for improving maternal and child health and for accelerating progress towards MDG 4 (child survival), MDG 5 (maternal health), and MDG 6 (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria). Levels & Trends in Child Mortality—a report produced in 2011 by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation—documents that Zambia is one of 13 African countries on track to attain MDG 4 on reduction of the under-five mortality rate. If newborn care is not addressed adequately, however, this progress will be derailed.

This Newborn Health Scale-up Framework articulates the context of the implementation of newborn health interventions in Zambia, the priority interventions and activities that require our attention for scaling up our efforts in newborn health, and a description of interventions across the continuum of care commencing at community level. The framework will provide the necessary basis for the development of guidelines, training materials, and behaviour change communication materials and programming for newborn health.