Maternal, newborn and stillbirth programmatic transition framework: background paper
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World Health Organization
Abstract
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vi, 20 p.
Slowing progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality and preventing stillbirths highlights the need for more targeted, context-specific strategies to accelerate gains and achieve global commitments such as the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. This background document presents the conceptual basis and development of a programmatic transition framework designed to guide countries in prioritizing interventions across different stages of mortality reduction. The framework builds on established transition models and integrates maternal, newborn and stillbirth outcomes into a unified five-phase model characterized by varying mortality levels, health system capacities and social determinants. Using a primary health-care approach, it combines programmatic, health systems, community and multisectoral dimensions to support strategic planning and policy development. The document outlines processes for assessing transition phases at national and subnational levels, identifying gaps and selecting context-appropriate strategic choices, or transition accelerators, to advance progress. It also highlights key implementation considerations, including data use, stakeholder engagement and integration into planning and budgeting processes, while recognizing that transitions are not always linear and may vary within countries. Intended for policy-makers, programme managers and health planners, it supports evidence-informed decision-making to strengthen systems, improve equity and accelerate mortality reduction.
Slowing progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality and preventing stillbirths highlights the need for more targeted, context-specific strategies to accelerate gains and achieve global commitments such as the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. This background document presents the conceptual basis and development of a programmatic transition framework designed to guide countries in prioritizing interventions across different stages of mortality reduction. The framework builds on established transition models and integrates maternal, newborn and stillbirth outcomes into a unified five-phase model characterized by varying mortality levels, health system capacities and social determinants. Using a primary health-care approach, it combines programmatic, health systems, community and multisectoral dimensions to support strategic planning and policy development. The document outlines processes for assessing transition phases at national and subnational levels, identifying gaps and selecting context-appropriate strategic choices, or transition accelerators, to advance progress. It also highlights key implementation considerations, including data use, stakeholder engagement and integration into planning and budgeting processes, while recognizing that transitions are not always linear and may vary within countries. Intended for policy-makers, programme managers and health planners, it supports evidence-informed decision-making to strengthen systems, improve equity and accelerate mortality reduction.
Keywords
Maternal Health, Maternal Mortality, Infant, Newborn, Infant Mortality, Stillbirth, Primary Health Care, Health Planning, Health Policy, Pregnancy Complications, Delivery, Obstetric, Perinatal Care, Continuity of Patient Care, Benchmarking, Evidence-Based Practice, Health Services Needs and Demand, Health Services Accessibility, Community Health Services, Program Evaluation, Strategic Planning, Policy Making, mortality, methods, trends