On the Road to Universal Coverage of Postnatal Care: Considerations for a targeted postnatal care approach for at-risk mother-baby dyads in low-income and middle-income countries informed by a consultation with global experts

The potential of timely, quality postnatal care (PNC) to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and to advance progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) is well-documented. Yet, in many low-income and middle-income countries, coverage of PNC remains low. This article reviews evidence-based risk criteria for the identification of at-risk mother-baby dyads, drawn from a literature review, and identifies key considerations for their use in a risk-stratified PNC approach.