PROGRESS IN MATERNAL AND NEWBORN HEALTH USING A COMPOSITE INDICATOR IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES (2010-2022)

Apresentação/Introdução Adequate antenatal, delivery, and early postnatal care are essential Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality through early prevention, detection, and management of complications. However, some low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to face challenges in delivering accessible and high-quality MNH services, leaving significant gaps in care. Objetivos To assess progress in MNH care using the Maternal and Newborn Health Composite Indicator (MNHci) in LMICs over the past 15 years. Metodologia We used data from nationally representative surveys conducted in LMICs to estimate the MNHci, which includes three key interventions: four or more antenatal care visits, institutional delivery, and postnatal care for the woman or baby within two days of birth. The MNHci is a count-based score from zero to three, with one point assigned per intervention received. To assess progress over time, we analyzed the proportion of women–baby dyads receiving all three interventions in countries with at least two surveys conducted since 2010, with a difference of five years between the latest and the earliest. Resultados We identified 51 countries with more than one available survey and at least a five-year gap between the earliest and most recent data. Considering the proportion of woman-baby dyads who received all interventions, 43 countries showed increased coverage. Notably, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Nepal, and Kenya achieved gains of over 30 percentage points. The most substantial improvements occurred in countries with lower baseline coverage. However, eight countries experienced declines, mostly small, except for São Tomé and Príncipe, where a significant drop in antenatal care (four or more visits) led to reduced overall coverage. Conclusões/Considerações While many countries have made progress in expanding MNH intervention coverage, particularly those that started with lower levels, coverage still remains below desired levels even in countries showing good progress. This highlights the ongoing need for sustained investment and robust monitoring systems. Ensuring equitable access to MNH services requires continued effort to address existing gaps and prevent any stagnation in progress.