#MaternalHealth

healthcaretoday.com

Good Start Challenge winners offer innovative ways to improve parental wellbeing

Solar-powered support hubs, community-led counselling and hybrid digital tools are among the six winners of the €2.6 million Good Start Challenge.

youtu.be

Low Vitamin D May Raise Preterm Birth Risk

YouTube video by HealthDay

www.threads.com

Bertha Coombs (@bercoonyc) on Threads

At @hispanichealthcouncil_ct #MaternalHealth conference this morning, Native American Doula Selena Perry talks about how she helps mothers in labor follow Native traditions in hospitals, including giv...

www.npr.org

To prevent deaths in childbirth, Kenyan moms turn to an AI powered chatbot

Many questions come up during pregnancy. Is swelling normal? Are avocados safe to eat? For folks in Kenya who don't have a search engine at their fingertips, a chatbot is offering a lifeline.

citizenportal.ai

Committee highlights maternal health readiness, kidney-care access and cybersecurity measures

The chair previewed a (Bridal) Obstetrics Readiness Act to prepare rural hospitals for obstetric emergencies and listed kidney-care access and remote dialysis monitoring bills, plus measures on therapeutic shoes and cyber resources to combat health-care cybersecurity threats.

en.killbait.com

Multiple Micronutrient Supplements Show Promise in Reducing Maternal Mortality and Birth Complications

The Independent reports on the potential of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) to significantly reduce maternal mortality and improve birth outcomes globally. According to research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, anaemia is a critical but often overlooked factor contributing to severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Current guidelines primarily focus on iron and folic acid tablets, but MMS pills, containing iron, folic acid, and 13 other vitamins and minerals, offer a more comprehensive solution. Modelling published in the British Medical Journal estimates that replacing iron and folic acid with MMS could prevent 3.5 million low-birthweight births and 186,000 stillbirths over five years in 25 low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organisation notes that MMS reduces maternal anaemia at term by 12% compared to iron and folic acid alone. Sierra Leone serves as a successful case study, where over half of pregnant women are anaemic. After implementing MMS, the country saw a 30% reduction in infant mortality in the first six months for anaemic mothers, along with lower stillbirth rates, reduced preterm births, and improved outcomes for underweight pregnant women. Community involvement, including health workers, religious leaders, and traditional healers, was key to the programme's success. MMS costs as little as $2 (£1.50) per woman for full pregnancy coverage, offering significant health and economic benefits. Governments in Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Pakistan have committed to integrating MMS into national antenatal systems, with over 30 other countries considering adoption. Despite progress, more than 90% of maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for over two-thirds of the estimated 260,000 annual deaths. The article highlights the need for national governments to invest in MMS and update policies to ensure every pregnant woman receives the supplement.