Q: How does breastfeeding protect newborns?

Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour — providing colostrum with its concentrated antibodies — reduces neonatal mortality from infections by approximately 45%. Exclusive breastfeeding also protects against SIDS and supports gut maturation.

Q: Why are stillbirths undercounted?

Stillbirths are excluded from most national vital statistics and SDG indicators. WHO estimates actual rates may be 2-3 times reported figures in some countries. Cultural taboos and administrative practices contribute. ENAP campaigns for universal registration as a public health prerequisite.

Question 1

Why do so many babies die on their first day?

Accepted Answer

~1 million babies die on the first day of life. Birth asphyxia, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and early-onset sepsis all present within hours. Immediate newborn care — drying, warming, stimulating, breastfeeding within the first hour and resuscitation if needed — prevents the majority of these deaths at near-zero cost.

Question 2

What is kangaroo mother care?

Accepted Answer

KMC is continuous skin-to-skin contact between a small/preterm newborn and a parent. WHO's 2022 guidelines recommend initiating immediately after birth — even for babies requiring medical care. Evidence shows KMC reduces neonatal mortality by 36%, hypothermia by 78% and promotes breastfeeding.

Question 3

What are the three leading causes of neonatal death?

Accepted Answer

Preterm birth complications (~35%), birth asphyxia (~24%) and neonatal sepsis (~15%) account for approximately three quarters of all neonatal deaths. All three are addressable: KMC and antenatal corticosteroids for prematurity; neonatal resuscitation for asphyxia; clean delivery and antibiotics for sepsis.

Question 4

What is the Every Newborn Action Plan?

Accepted Answer

ENAP, co-led by WHO and UNICEF, is the global roadmap to end preventable neonatal deaths and stillbirths by 2035. It sets coverage milestones for skilled birth attendance, 8+ antenatal contacts, postnatal care within 24 hours, KMC for small babies and neonatal resuscitation training.

Question 5

What causes neonatal sepsis?

Accepted Answer

Early-onset neonatal sepsis (before 72 hours) is typically caused by GBS or E. coli acquired during delivery. Prevention includes intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for GBS-positive mothers, clean delivery practices and chlorhexidine cord care. Late-onset sepsis is often healthcare-acquired, requiring strict infection prevention in neonatal units.

Question 6

What is birth asphyxia?

Accepted Answer

Birth asphyxia occurs when a newborn fails to establish breathing — causing oxygen deprivation and potential brain injury. Basic neonatal resuscitation (clearing airway, drying, stimulating, bag-and-mask ventilation) reverses most cases. Every birth attendant should be trained. Therapeutic hypothermia reduces brain injury in severe cases where NICU capability exists.

Question 7

What is a stillbirth?

Accepted Answer

A stillbirth is fetal death at or after 28 weeks — approximately 1.9 million annually, 98% in LMICs. Largely preventable with quality antenatal care and skilled birth attendance but excluded from most global health statistics. Universal stillbirth registration is a prerequisite for investment in prevention.

Question 8

How does prematurity affect survival?

Accepted Answer

Preterm babies — born before 37 weeks — are the most medically vulnerable newborns. Antenatal corticosteroids (given before preterm delivery) reduce neonatal respiratory distress syndrome mortality by ~34%. KMC dramatically improves survival even without NICU. Very preterm babies (<32 weeks) ideally require NICU care with surfactant and CPAP.

Question 9

How does breastfeeding protect newborns?

Accepted Answer

Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour — providing colostrum with its concentrated antibodies — reduces neonatal mortality from infections by approximately 45%. Exclusive breastfeeding also protects against SIDS and supports gut maturation.

Question 10

Why are stillbirths undercounted?

Accepted Answer

Stillbirths are excluded from most national vital statistics and SDG indicators. WHO estimates actual rates may be 2-3 times reported figures in some countries. Cultural taboos and administrative practices contribute. ENAP campaigns for universal registration as a public health prerequisite.

Question 11

How does PHIG's accreditation work address newborn health?

Accepted Answer

PHIG's Accreditation Canada programme in Georgia includes standards for delivery room readiness, neonatal resuscitation competency, KMC implementation and postnatal care — directly improving the quality of newborn care in accredited Georgian hospitals.

Question 12

How does GMJ News cover newborn health?

Accepted Answer

GMJ News tracks UNICEF IGME neonatal mortality data, WHO KMC guideline updates, ENAP milestones and neonatal sepsis, prematurity and stillbirth research — all relevant to PHIG's accreditation work and the Georgian Medical Journal's focus on maternal and child health.

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