Welcome to the newborn health component of the WHO maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (MNCAH) e-handbook. This essential resource provides comprehensive guidance to improve newborn health globally. Addressing the critical issue of newborn mortality, the e-handbook highlights cost-effective interventions such as immediate and postnatal newborn care, skilled neonatal care and follow-up services. It emphasizes a life-course approach and programmatic strategies to strengthen service delivery, ensuring timely, high-quality care for every newborn.
Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing
We lead WHO’s work on the life course so that every pregnant woman, mother, newborn, child, adolescent, and older person will survive, thrive and enjoy health and well-being.
Newborn health
Essential newborn care
WHO-recommended essential newborn care interventions
| Intervention | Level of care |
|---|---|
| Immediate and thorough drying of the newborn | Community, primary, referral |
| Immediate skin-to-skin contact | Community, primary, referral |
| Early initiation of breastfeeding (within the first hour) | Community, primary, referral |
| Exclusive breastfeeding counselling | Community, primary, referral |
| Cord care (clean and dry care, use of antiseptics if necessary) | Community, primary, referral |
| Eye prophylaxis (for prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum) | Primary, referral |
| Newborn temperature maintenance and prevention of hypothermia | Community, primary, referral |
| Vitamin K administration | Primary, referral |
| Monitoring breathing and signs of respiratory distress | Primary, referral |
| Immunizations (according to national guidelines) | Primary, referral |
| Recognition and treatment of neonatal infections | Primary, referral |
| Resuscitation of newborns not breathing at birth | Primary, referral |
| Kangaroo mother care for low-birth-weight infants | Primary, referral |
| Management of neonatal jaundice within first 24 hours | Referral |
| Management of severe neonatal infections (e.g. sepsis) | Referral |
| Advanced neonatal care (e.g. neonatal intensive care for very low birth weight or premature infants) | Referral |
This table covers essential newborn care interventions and the appropriate level of care based on WHO recommendations. Full details can be found in WHO recommendations on newborn health (2017).
Postnatal care interventions
WHO recommendations for postnatal care interventions for the newborn
| Intervention | Visit | Timing (day) |
|---|---|---|
| Assess newborn’s vital signs (temperature, heart rate, respiration) | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Initiate and support early breastfeeding | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Examine newborn’s general health (e.g. activity, colour, breathing) | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Assess for birth injuries or congenital abnormalities | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Assess for signs of infection (temperature instability, feeding difficulties) | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Provide cord care and infection prevention advice | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Conduct newborn immunization (as per national schedule) | 1st visit | Within 24 hours after birth |
| Monitor breastfeeding (latching, milk intake) | 2nd visit | Day 3 (48–72 hours) |
| Assess for jaundice | 2nd visit | Day 3 (48–72 hours) |
| Check umbilical cord for signs of infection | 2nd visit | Day 3 (48–72 hours) |
| Assess newborn weight and general condition | 2nd visit | Day 3 (48–72 hours) |
| Continue monitoring of breastfeeding and feeding | 3rd visit | Day 7–14 |
| Check weight, growth and development | 3rd visit | Day 7–14 |
| Monitor for any late-onset jaundice or signs of infection | 3rd visit | Day 7–14 |
| Assess for feeding difficulties (breastfeeding or formula) | 3rd visit | Day 7–14 |
| Full physical assessment (including vision, hearing, reflexes) | 4th visit | 6 weeks postpartum |
| Check growth (weight, length, head circumference) | 4th visit | 6 weeks postpartum |
| Newborn immunization (as per national schedule) | 4th visit | 6 weeks postpartum |
| Assess developmental milestones (e.g. response to stimuli) | 4th visit | 6 weeks postpartum |
This table lists the key postnatal care interventions for the newborn, organized by visit and timing. Full details are available in WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience (2022).
WHO-recommended interventions for the care of the small and sick newborn child
| Intervention | Level of care |
|---|---|
| Immediate thermal care (drying, skin-to-skin contact, warm environment) | Primary, referral |
| Early and exclusive breastfeeding | Community, primary, referral |
| Kangaroo mother care for stable preterm or low-birth-weight infants | Primary, referral |
| Respiratory support (CPAP or mechanical ventilation) for newborns with respiratory distress | Referral |
| Administration of oxygen (for hypoxaemia or respiratory distress) | Referral |
| Early initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 hour of birth) | Primary, referral |
| Administration of surfactant for premature newborns with respiratory distress syndrome | Referral |
| Monitoring and maintaining blood glucose levels | Primary, referral |
| Management of neonatal infections (e.g. sepsis, pneumonia) | Primary, referral |
| Antibiotic treatment for suspected neonatal sepsis | Primary, referral |
| Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) | Referral |
| Fluid and electrolyte management | Referral |
| Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice | Referral |
| Prevention and treatment of hypothermia | Primary, referral |
| Advanced resuscitation for newborns with birth asphyxia | Referral |
| Blood transfusion (for severe anaemia or blood loss) | Referral |
| Exchange transfusion (for severe hyperbilirubinemia) | Referral |
| Parenteral nutrition for very low birth weight or critically ill newborns | Referral |
| Neurodevelopmental follow-up and early intervention | Referral |
This table outlines the
interventions for the care of small and sick newborns according to WHO
recommendations. The level of care ranges from primary to referral facilities.
Full details can be found in WHO recommendations for care of the
preterm or low-birth-weight infant (2022).
Follow-up care
WHO-recommended interventions for follow-up care for the newborn child
| Intervention | Timing | Level of care |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn physical examination | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, referral |
| Monitoring growth (weight, length, head circumference) | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, referral |
| Developmental assessment (milestones, reflexes) | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, Referral |
| Immunizations (according to national schedule) | At scheduled visits (e.g. 6 weeks) | Community, primary, referral |
| Follow-up on feeding and growth issues | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, referral |
| Detection and management of developmental delays | At 6 weeks postpartum | Primary, referral |
| Screening for and management of jaundice | At 6 weeks postpartum | Primary, referral |
| Evaluation of family and home environment | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, referral |
| Follow-up on signs of illness or infection | As needed (following initial visit) | Community, primary, referral |
| Counselling on infant care, breastfeeding and family planning | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, referral |
| Coordination with maternal health services | At 6 weeks postpartum | Community, primary, referral |
This table provides an
overview of follow-up care interventions for newborns as recommended by WHO,
including the timing of each intervention, the appropriate level of care and
references to specific pages in WHO recommendations on newborn health (2017).
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