Human resource strategies to improve newborn care in health facilities in low- and middle-income countries

Overview

Deaths in the neonatal period (the first 28 days of life) now represent nearly half (47%) of all deaths of children under 5 years, with 2.5 million neonatal deaths and 1.9 million stillbirths per year. In addition, more than 1.5 million newborns survive each year with long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. Almost all neonatal deaths (98%) occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the highest rates of neonatal mortality are in countries with humanitarian crises. For every country to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2 for neonatal survival by 2030, more investment is necessary in health facility care for all mothers and newborns. Newborns are the most vulnerable population in the world; they have specific needs and are a sensitive marker of the quality of care, as they can die within minutes. Yet, of the 30 million newborns who require inpatient care every year, approximately half do not have access to neonatal care services and those who have access often receive care of suboptimal quality.