Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Indicators for Global Tracking of Newborn Care

In 2008, in an effort to clarify the indicators needed to measure progress of improving newborn survival, the Newborn Indicators Technical Working Group (TWG) convened. The TWG promoted consistent measurement of postnatal care for women and newborns and for immediate care behaviors and practices for newborns. In addition, the TWG promoted increased data availability through the inclusion of additional questions in nationally representative surveys.

One result of the TWG’s work was to achieve consensus on three additional indicators for care of newborns after birth: drying, delayed bathing, and cutting the cord with a clean instrument.