Maternal Health and Infectious Diseases: A Technical Update

Publish Date: September 2014
Author: MCHIP
Language: English

As global progress continues in reducing deaths in women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first six weeks postpartum, all maternal and newborn healthcare providers will need to be able to identify and manage the infectious diseases most likely to affect their patients. This technical brief highlights basic information and key elements on selected maternal infections and offers updated guidance about best clinical practice.

Another MCHIP maternal health briefer—entitled “Maternal Mortality and HIV: An Overview“—examines the causes of maternal morbidity and mortality among women living with HIV, as well as maternal health and antiretroviral treatment.

A third brief—entitled “Intersecting Epidemics: An Overview of the Causes of Maternal Death and Infectious Diseases“—examines why and where mothers are dying, and raises questions about how maternal health strategies can and should be increasingly customized and targeted to accelerate progress in saving mothers’ lives.