Ending Preventable Maternal and Newborn Mortality and Stillbirths

Despite remarkable achievements to improve maternal and child survival, 800 women and 7700 new-borns still die each day from complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postnatal period; an additional 7300 women experience a stillbirth.1-3Some countries have been able to improve health outcomes for women and children, even with relatively low health expenditures.4 The key to their success can be found in context-specific, evidence-informed strategies to improve and integrate care, supported by strong guiding principles and good governance.5This paper builds upon two strategic plans—Every Newborn: An Action Plan to End Preventable Deaths (ENAP) and the Strategies toward Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM)67—that aim to catalyze global action to eliminate wide disparities in the risk of death and end preventable maternal and newborn mortality and stillbirths within a generation (box 1). We discuss the strategic priorities and essential interventions needed to prevent maternal and new-born deaths and stillbirths and promote maternal and newborn health and wellbeing.