UPDATE Dec. 1, 2025: We recently completed a literature review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the impact of complex neonatal health interventions on neonatal mortality. We found that increased rates of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and skin-to-skin contact (SSC) correlated with reduction in neonatal mortality. Substantial improvements in EIBF and SSC were seen even though interventions did not appear to emphasize these practices, increasing our confidence that they can be readily improved. A summary of our findings, as well as a link to the full report, can be found on the HealthLearn blog.
UPDATE Dec. 1, 2025: We recently completed a literature review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the impact of complex neonatal health interventions on neonatal mortality. We found that increased rates of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and skin-to-skin contact (SSC) correlated with reduction in neonatal mortality. Substantial improvements in EIBF and SSC were seen even though interventions did not appear to emphasize these practices, increasing our confidence that they can be readily improved. A summary of our findings, as well as a link to the full report, can be found on the HealthLearn blog.