The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59234

Anne Tinker, MPH, Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children, 2000 M Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, 202/530-4366, atinker@dc.savechildren.org, Judith Robb-McCord, MAAS, MPH, Maternal and Neonatal Health Program, JHPIEGO Corporation, 1615 Thames Street, Baltimore, MA 21231-3492, and Martha Murdock, Family Care International, 588 Broadway , Suite 503, New York, NY 10012.

Abstract (From Anne Tinker): Neonatal mortality now represents 40 percent of all under-five deaths that are reported globally – or around four million deaths annually. Nearly all of these deaths occur in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America: The majority of these deaths could be prevented. SNL works to reduce newborn mortality by strengthening newborn care within existing maternal and child health programs. However, in many developing countries, national newborn policies are essential to reducing this heavy burden of neonatal deaths, and in many cases national responses are not adequate.

A range of national policies, programs and resources are needed to integrate newborn care into existing health care programs in developing countries. SNL offers three case studies showing how nonprofit organizations can engage effectively in policy: · Nepal—SNL has worked with the Government of Nepal to draft newborn health policy for the nation. · Pakistan and Mali, – As a partner with the national governments and UNICEF in eliminating maternal and newborn tetanus, SNL’s social mobilization strategy helped to create community participation in each of these national MNT campaigns. · Global: A comprehensive review of research on newborn health interventions provided the evidence base for SNL’s essential newborn care strategy.

Learning Objectives: From this presentation, the learner will have improved understanding of: · How policies can be developed to integrate newborn health programs into existing health care infrastructure; · How NGOs can assume important roles in implementing national policies; · Research findings can support policies and shape programmatic direction.

Saving Newborn Lives is an initiative of Save the Children/US and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to:
• ·Recognize the importance of national policy commitments to sustainable changes in access to and quality of healthcare in developing countries
• ·Describe at least three processes or approaches used to influence change in national health policy
• ·Discuss the effectiveness of these approaches and how they might be replicated in other countries or areas of health policy

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Developing Countries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Maternal and Neonatal Health Program Saving Newborn Lives Family Care International
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.