Antenatal and postnatal care: a review of innovative models for improving availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of services in low-resource settings.

UNLABELLED: Key lessons can be drawn from innovative approaches that have been implemented to ensure access to better antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC). This paper examines the successes and challenges of ANC and PNC delivery models in several settings around the world; discusses the lessons to be learned from them; and makes recommendations for future programmes. Based on this review, we conclude that close monitoring of ANC and PNC quality and delivery models, health workforce support, appropriate use of electronic technologies, integrated care, a woman-friendly perspective, and adequate infrastructure are key elements of successful programmes that benefit the health and wellbeing of women, their newborns and families. However, a full evaluation of care delivery models is needed to establish their acceptability, accessibility, availability and quality. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: New paper examines global innovations in antenatal/postnatal care @MHTF @ICS_Integrare #MNCH #healthsystems.

Translating research into practice: the introduction of the INTERGROWTH-21st package of clinical standards, tools and guidelines into policies, programmes and services.

The INTERGROWTH-21(st) Project has generated a package of international clinical standards, tools and guidelines. It is now necessary to plan for the next phase of the project: the translation of the research findings into practice through its global dissemination. The plan is to pre-empt barriers to implementation by drawing from the published literature; gathering views and perspectives from policy makers, programmers and practitioners; incorporating input from local 'champions', and collecting and analysing data generated by a monitoring and evaluation system. Working at the global, regional, national and local levels will enable wide dissemination of the package, as well as increase the scope for adaptation and integration in diverse clinical contexts. We seek maximum uptake of the package in policies, guidelines and clinical practice to improve the quality of care offered to mothers and newborns. The strategy will also enhance our understanding of the effectiveness of different approaches to the translation of evidence into practice.