The Department of Child and Adolescent Health has developed guidelines on optimal feeding of low birth weight infants in low- and middle-income countries. These guidelines include recommendations on what to feed low-birth weight infants, when to start feeding, how to feed, how often and how much to feed. The guidelines were developed using the process described in the WHO Handbook for Development of Guidelines. Systematic reviews were conducted to answer 18 priority questions identified by the guidelines development group. The population of interest is low-birth weight infants, and the critical outcomes include mortality, severe morbidity, growth and development. The implementation of these guidelines in low- and middle-income countries is expected to improve care and survival of low birth weight infants.

Presents country, regional and global estimates of low birthweight for 2000, together with a detailed description of the methodology used. Some limited data on trends are also included.

Every year throughout the world, about four million babies die before they reach one month old, most during the critical first week of life. Most of these deaths are a result of the poor health and nutritional status of the mother, combined with problems such as tetanus or asphyxia, trauma, low birth weight, or preterm birth. However, many of the conditions which result in perinatal death are preventable or treatable without the need for expensive technology. Against this background, this publication contains guidance on evidence-based standards for high quality care provision during the newborn period, considering the needs of mother and baby. It has been produced to assist countries with limited resources to reduce neonatal mortality. The information is arranged under four main headings: clinical assessment, findings and management; principles of newborn baby care; procedures; record keeping and essential equipment, supplies and drugs.

The evaluation of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) by the Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (DCP3) focuses on maternal conditions, childhood illness, and malnutrition. Specifically, the chapters address acute illness and undernutrition in children, principally under age 5. It also covers maternal mortality, morbidity, stillbirth, and influences to pregnancy and pre-pregnancy. Volume 3 focuses on developments since the publication of DCP2 and will also include the transition to older childhood, in particular, the overlap and commonality with the child development volume. The DCP3 evaluation of these conditions produced three key findings: 1. There is significant difficulty in measuring the burden of key conditions such as unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, nonsexually transmitted infections, infertility, and violence against women. 2. Investments in the continuum of care can have significant returns for improved and equitable access, health, poverty, and health systems. 3. There is a large difference in how RMNCH conditions affect different income groups; investments in RMNCH can lessen the disparity in terms of both health and financial risk.

This guideline aims to improve the quality of care and the health and wellbeing of the preterm or low birthweight infant aged 0-24 months. It is a guideline of new and updated recommendations for facility- or community-based care in any resource setting. It focuses on preventive and promotive care, care of complications and family involvement and support. All levels of health care staff can implement the guidelines.

Kangaroo mother care is a method of care of preterm infants which involves infants being carried, usually by the mother, with skin-to-skin contact. This guide is intended for health professionals responsible for the care of low-birth-weight and preterm infants. Designed to be adapted to local conditions, it provides guidance on how to organize services at the referral level and on what is needed to provide effective kangaroo mother care.