WHO and UN Launch Implementation Toolkits to Improve Quality Antenatal and Postnatal Care Worldwide
Recognizing that quality postnatal care is essential not only to prevent maternal and newborn deaths but also to support positive physical, emotional and psychological health and well-being, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nation’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) are working together to close the gap between global recommendations and real-world implementation.
At the heart of this effort are WHO’s updated recommendations for antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, which emphasize not only quality of clinical care but also the importance of a positive experience for women and newborns. Yet, translating these recommendations into practice remains a challenge. To address this, WHO and HRP have developed a suite of implementation tools designed to support countries in adapting global guidance to their specific contexts.
Among these tools are two comprehensive implementation toolkits: one for adapting antenatal care and postnatal care recommendations into national guidelines, and another for implementing intrapartum care and immediate postnatal care recommendations at the facility level. These toolkits guide users through participatory, stepwise processes to identify local needs, assess barriers and enablers and prioritize actions. They include resources such as a baseline assessment and decision support template, case studies and a menu of indicators aligned with global monitoring frameworks.
To further support countries, WHO and HRP have also introduced Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) for antenatal care and postnatal care. These kits translate WHO’s recommendations into formats that can be incorporated within the existing digital systems health workers use, such as electronic medical records and decision support tools. This, in turn, offers an opportunity for reinforcing adherence to WHO’s recommendations through growing investments in digital health.
A DAK for intrapartum care is also under development.
