First-Ever Study Assesses Health Needs of World's Newborns On Eve Of UN Special Session.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2001

Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Study and Global Initiative

Aim to Improve Newborn Survival

To sustain the dramatic gains in infant and child survival achieved over the past decade, Save the Children, a leading child development and relief organization, is turning the world's attention to the importance of investing in the health of newborns (0-28 days).

On the eve of the United Nations Special Session on Children in New York City (September 19-21), Save the Children has released the State of the World's Newborns, a first-ever report spotlighting the broad implications of newborn care and neglect and the solutions to prevent millions of newborn deaths that occur annually.

"While child death rates have been reduced by roughly 14 percent over the past decade, newborn death rates remain staggeringly high," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. "Newborn deaths now constitute nearly half of all child deaths (children under five years of age)."

The report, published with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, evaluates 163 countries using 12 indicators of newborn health and survival and highlights a handful of proven, cost-effective interventions to stop most of the 4 million newborn deaths and equal number of stillbirths that occur each year. Since the health of babies and that of their mothers is inextricably linked, these solutions will benefit both mothers and newborns.

KEY FINDINGS

The report reveals several notable findings, including:

(1) Newborn health has been largely ignored, falling through the cracks between safe motherhood programs and child survival programs. Infections, low birth weight, malnutrition and absence of skilled care at delivery combine to claim the lives of eight newborns every minute. Nearly all of these deaths take place in developing countries.

(2) Enormous gaps exist among regions of the world in newborn health as well as startling variation between low-income and high-income countries. For example, in Mali, the newborn death rate is about 60 deaths per 1,000 births, compared to the United States, where the rate is less than 5 in 1,000. This disparity among regions widens when examining the lifetime risk of a mother experiencing newborn death. A mother in West Africa has a one-in-three chance of one of her babies dying in the first month of life. In North America, the rate is less than 1 in 100.

(3) Maternal health is inextricably linked to newborn health. Each year in the developing world, 53 million women go through pregnancy and childbirth with no skilled health care. Yet skilled health assistance during pregnancy and delivery, and the timing and spacing of pregnancies, are critical for the survival and well-being of mother and newborns. Delayed childbearing improves the chances that mothers and newborns will be healthy, and when mothers space their pregnancies and births at least two years apart, it increases the chances by 25 percent that they and their babies will survive.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

To address these challenges, State of the World's Newborns points to several proven, available solutions to save millions of newborn lives.

By increasing health care services such as access to immunizations, child death rates have been significantly reduced over the past decade. Save the Children's report indicates that similar success can be achieved in newborn health by building newborn services into existing maternal and child health programs. For example, tetanus immunization costing just more than $1 can prevent a common cause of newborn death. Immediate and exclusive breastfeeding can prevent malnutrition and infection. Rudimentary hygiene equipment, such as a bar of soap, can dramatically improve the chances of avoiding infection at birth. A blanket and hat can prevent hypothermia.

To spur individuals, organizations and governments worldwide, Save the Children has launched a new effort called Saving Newborn Lives. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with a $50 million grant, Saving Newborn Lives is a global initiative to improve the health and survival of newborns in the developing world.

"The health of newborns is a key indicator of the health and productivity of families, communities, and countries," said Anne Tinker, director of Saving Newborn Lives. "By integrating doable, inexpensive services into existing programs, we can affect the social and economic well-being of countries for generations to come."

As heads of state convene in New York to reevaluate the state of the world's children during the UN Special Session, Save the Children will advocate a program of effective, low-cost health care solutions that can be adopted by policymakers, community leaders and citizens in every country to ensure that every newborn grows into a strong, productive member of society.

"The 1990 World Summit for Children yielded dramatic improvements in the lives of children," said Charles MacCormack. "Next week, world leaders have the opportunity once again to produce results--this time by addressing children's needs during their critical first month of life."

For more information about Saving Newborn Lives or for a full copy of State of the World's Newborns, visit the Save the Children website: www.savethechildren.org

Save the Children is a leading international non-profit child-assistance organization working in more than 40 countries worldwide, including the United States. Its mission is to make lasting positive change in the lives of children in need. Save the Children is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a worldwide network of 30 independent Save the Children organizations working in more than 100 countries to ensure the well-being and protect the rights of children everywhere.