Attaining Sustainable Development Goal for Newborn Survival: Reinforcing Postnatal Interventions

Under the sustainable development goals (SDG), the target for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) was proposed to be less than 12 per 1000 live births by 2030 and may not meet the SDG 2030 NMR target. It may be prudent to focus on moderately low birth weight babies, 1500-2499 g, to reach the goal. This category of babies constitutes 37% of newborn deaths. They need supervised care for a short period that consists of the provision of warmth and breastfeeding with or without antibiotic therapy, and with or without oxygen administration. Despite knowing that these interventions can reduce neonatal deaths, deficiencies in how to implement these measures may be making all the difference to the expected outcome. This paper suggests possible ways to enhance the effectiveness of some of the better-known interventions such as the provision of warmth, feeding, resuscitation, oxygen administration, delivery of continuous positive airway support, and antibiotic therapy.