Newborn health

A Vietnamese newborn child sleeping
WHO Viet Nam

Each year, an estimated 2.955 million babies die in the world before they reach the age of one month, and 3 million more are stillborn, mostly in developing countries and often in the absence of skilled care. Many of these deaths occur in babies born too early and too small, babies with infection, or babies with asphyxia or birth trauma.

Skilled health care during pregnancy, childbirth and in the immediate postnatal period prevents complications for mother and newborn, and allows for early detection and management of problems. Provision of essential newborn care, home visits by a skilled health worker during a baby's first week of life and access to care for complications are key strategies to improve newborn survival.

General information

Partners and links

Prevention, treatment and awareness

Essential newborn care course

Publications and documents

Essential interventions, commodities and guidelines for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health

A global review of the key interventions related to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child Health

Highlighted publications

World health statistics 2013
  • World Health Statistics 2013
    World Health Statistics 2013 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.
Global report on the status of road safety 2013
  • Global status report on road safety 2013
    The Global status report on road safety 2013 presents information on road safety from 182 countries, accounting for almost 99% of the world’s population. The report indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths remains unacceptably high at 1.24 million per year.
  • Atlas of health and climate
    The Atlas of health and climate is a product of this unique collaboration between the meteorological and public health communities. It provides sound scientific information on the connections between weather and climate and major health challenges.
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