NU507 Module 5

NU507 Module 5

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Purdue University Global

NU507 Promoting Optimal Models and Systems for Health Care Delivery

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Maternal-Newborn Health as a Global Health Priority:

Improving maternal and newborn health requires equitable access to quality healthcare, evidence-based clinical practices, strong nursing leadership, and effective public policies. Although many pregnancy-related complications are preventable, disparities in healthcare access, inadequate maternal services, and socioeconomic barriers continue to contribute to maternal and newborn mortality worldwide. Nurse leaders play a central role in advancing policy initiatives, implementing evidence-based interventions, and promoting health equity to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.

Maternal-newborn health remains one of the most significant global public health concerns because the well-being of mothers directly influences infant survival, family stability, and long-term community health. Despite remarkable advances in modern medicine, preventable maternal and neonatal deaths continue to occur, particularly in low-resource and underserved communities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most maternal and newborn deaths can be prevented through timely access to quality healthcare, skilled birth attendance, effective emergency obstetric care, and evidence-based clinical interventions (Lazzerini et al., 2019).

Healthcare systems, policymakers, and nursing professionals share the responsibility of reducing maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving access to prenatal and postpartum services, addressing health inequities, and supporting continuous quality improvement initiatives. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses influence maternal outcomes through clinical expertise, patient education, advocacy, and leadership, making them essential contributors to global maternal health improvement.

Understanding Maternal-Newborn Health as a Global Health Issue

Maternal-newborn health encompasses the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as the survival and healthy development of newborns. It is widely recognized as a key indicator of a country’s healthcare quality because maternal and neonatal outcomes reflect the effectiveness, accessibility, and equity of healthcare systems.

Although maternal mortality has declined over recent decades, preventable deaths remain a major concern. Pregnancy-related complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, obstructed labor, and unsafe childbirth practices continue to place millions of women and infants at risk. These complications are especially common in regions where healthcare infrastructure is weak or where women face barriers to receiving timely medical care.

NU507 Module 5

Research indicates that nearly 90% of maternal and newborn deaths result from preventable or treatable conditions when appropriate healthcare services are available (Baltzell et al., 2017). Improving maternal health therefore requires coordinated efforts that combine evidence-based clinical care with supportive healthcare policies and community engagement.

Healthcare disparities further worsen maternal outcomes. Women living in rural areas, low-income communities, or medically underserved populations often experience delayed prenatal care, limited access to skilled healthcare professionals, transportation challenges, financial constraints, and inadequate postpartum follow-up. Addressing these inequities is essential for achieving sustainable improvements in maternal and newborn survival.

Key Insight: Most maternal and newborn deaths can be prevented through early prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric services, evidence-based clinical practice, and equitable access to healthcare.

Why Maternal-Newborn Health Is a Global Healthcare Priority

Maternal-newborn health extends beyond pregnancy outcomes. Healthy mothers are more likely to deliver healthy infants, recover successfully after childbirth, and provide stable family environments that support child development. Conversely, maternal illness or death can have lasting consequences for children, families, healthcare systems, and national economies.

Poor maternal outcomes frequently reveal broader healthcare system challenges, including:

• Limited access to prenatal and postpartum care

• Shortages of skilled healthcare professionals

• Inadequate emergency obstetric services

• Weak healthcare infrastructure

• Social and economic inequalities

• Insufficient patient education

• Gaps in maternal health policies

NU507 Module 5

These systemic issues increase the likelihood of preventable complications while widening health disparities among vulnerable populations.

Global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF continue to prioritize maternal and newborn health by promoting respectful maternity care, standardized clinical guidelines, healthcare workforce development, and quality improvement initiatives. Their recommendations emphasize that improving maternal outcomes requires coordinated action across healthcare systems rather than isolated clinical interventions.

Healthcare organizations must also adopt patient-centered approaches that respect cultural differences, improve communication between providers and patients, and encourage women to actively participate in healthcare decisions throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Evidence Snapshot: Maternal-newborn health is considered a global priority because improving maternal survival strengthens infant health, family well-being, healthcare quality, and long-term population health.

The Expanding Role of Nurse Leaders in Maternal-Newborn Health

Nurse leaders play an increasingly important role in reducing maternal and newborn mortality because they bridge clinical practice, healthcare administration, education, and policy development. Their leadership extends beyond bedside care to improving healthcare systems, influencing legislation, and implementing evidence-based strategies that enhance patient outcomes.

Because nurses spend more time with patients than most healthcare professionals, they are often the first to recognize complications, identify barriers to care, and advocate for timely interventions. This frontline perspective enables nurse leaders to design solutions that improve both individual patient care and organizational performance.

Effective nurse leaders contribute by:

• Identifying healthcare disparities affecting mothers and newborns

• Promoting evidence-based maternity care

• Leading quality improvement initiatives

• Supporting interdisciplinary collaboration

• Educating healthcare professionals and patients

• Advocating for maternal health policies

• Evaluating patient safety outcomes

• Improving access to equitable healthcare services

NU507 Module 5

Leadership also requires adaptability, strategic thinking, and effective communication. Kodama and Fukahori (2017) emphasize that successful nurse managers create organizational environments that encourage innovation, collaboration, and continuous quality improvement. These leadership competencies are particularly valuable in maternal healthcare, where rapid clinical decision-making and coordinated care directly affect maternal and neonatal survival.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), family nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists further strengthen maternal healthcare by delivering comprehensive prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and preventive services. Their expertise improves continuity of care while supporting healthier pregnancies and safer childbirth experiences.

Clinical Perspective: Strong nursing leadership improves maternal and newborn outcomes by integrating evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient education, and healthcare policy advocacy.

Policy Reform as a Strategy for Improving Maternal and Newborn Outcomes

Clinical care alone cannot eliminate preventable maternal deaths. Sustainable improvements require healthcare policies that strengthen healthcare systems, improve provider education, expand access to services, and establish standardized maternal care practices.

One significant policy initiative is the Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMS) Act (S.116), which seeks to reduce maternal mortality through coordinated national strategies. The legislation emphasizes improving maternal healthcare quality, expanding maternal mortality review programs, strengthening provider education, and increasing the use of evidence-based interventions across healthcare settings.

The proposed policy supports collaboration among federal agencies, state governments, healthcare organizations, and community partners to identify preventable causes of maternal mortality and implement targeted prevention strategies.

Rather than focusing solely on treating complications after they occur, the policy prioritizes prevention by strengthening prenatal care, postpartum monitoring, data collection, and healthcare quality improvement.

Policy Insight: Comprehensive maternal health policies reduce preventable deaths by strengthening healthcare systems, improving provider education, expanding access to care, and promoting standardized evidence-based practices.

Primary Goals of Maternal Health Policy Reform

Effective maternal health policies should address the underlying factors that contribute to preventable maternal and newborn complications. A comprehensive policy framework focuses on prevention, quality improvement, health equity, and healthcare system capacity.

Improving Prevention and Early Risk Identification

Early identification of pregnancy-related complications significantly reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. Healthcare providers should conduct routine prenatal assessments to detect conditions such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, infection, anemia, and fetal growth abnormalities before they become life-threatening.

Successful prevention strategies include:

• Comprehensive prenatal screening programs

• Routine maternal risk assessments

• Postpartum follow-up appointments

• Timely referrals to specialists

• Patient education on pregnancy warning signs

• Improved continuity of maternal care

Early intervention enables healthcare teams to initiate appropriate treatment before complications escalate, improving outcomes for both mothers and infants.

Strengthening Evidence-Based Maternity Care

Healthcare organizations should standardize maternal care according to current scientific evidence and internationally recognized clinical guidelines. Standardization minimizes unnecessary variations in practice while improving patient safety and healthcare quality.

Evidence-based maternity care supports:

• Consistent clinical decision-making

• Safer childbirth practices

• Improved communication among healthcare teams

• Better patient experiences

• Reduced maternal complications

Lazzerini et al. (2019) found that implementing WHO quality standards enhances maternal safety, strengthens communication between healthcare professionals and patients, and improves overall maternity care.

Promoting Health Equity

Reducing maternal mortality requires eliminating disparities that prevent vulnerable populations from accessing quality healthcare. Women living in underserved communities often face financial, geographic, cultural, and systemic barriers that delay or prevent timely maternal care.

Policy initiatives should prioritize:

• Expanding prenatal care access

• Reducing financial barriers

• Improving transportation services

• Increasing culturally competent care

• Strengthening rural healthcare services

• Addressing social determinants of health

Health equity ensures that every mother receives respectful, high-quality care regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or geographic location.

Nurse Leadership Strategies for Successful Policy Implementation

Transforming maternal health policies into measurable improvements requires effective nursing leadership. Nurse leaders help healthcare organizations translate legislative priorities into daily clinical practice while ensuring that healthcare teams understand and adopt evidence-based standards.

Key leadership strategies include:

• Collaborating with government agencies and healthcare organizations

• Educating clinical teams on updated maternal care guidelines

• Supporting quality improvement initiatives

• Promoting community-based maternal health programs

• Monitoring patient outcomes using clinical data

• Advocating for adequate healthcare resources

• Encouraging interdisciplinary teamwork

By serving as intermediaries between policymakers and frontline healthcare professionals, nurse leaders ensure that policy objectives remain aligned with patient needs and organizational capabilities.

Agenda-Setting Strategies for Maternal-Newborn Health

Creating lasting improvements in maternal-newborn health begins with effective agenda setting. Agenda setting refers to the process of identifying priority health issues, building stakeholder support, and influencing public policy through research, advocacy, and strategic communication.

Maternal mortality remains a global concern because many pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Nurse leaders can elevate maternal health on national and international policy agendas by presenting evidence, highlighting disparities, and demonstrating the social and economic impact of preventable maternal deaths.

Successful agenda-setting strategies include:

• Using maternal mortality data to support policy reform

• Building partnerships among healthcare organizations

• Raising public awareness through education campaigns

• Collaborating with policymakers

• Promoting evidence-based recommendations

• Encouraging interdisciplinary participation

These strategies help ensure that maternal health remains a sustained healthcare priority rather than a temporary public health initiative.

Advocacy as a Catalyst for Maternal Health Policy Development

Advocacy is a cornerstone of maternal-newborn health improvement because it helps translate research findings and clinical experiences into meaningful policy action. Nurses, physicians, public health professionals, and community organizations all play critical roles in advocating for policies that improve maternal healthcare quality, reduce disparities, and expand access to essential services.

As the largest segment of the global healthcare workforce, nurses are uniquely positioned to influence maternal health policy. Their direct interaction with mothers, newborns, and families provides valuable insight into barriers affecting healthcare delivery, allowing them to advocate for practical, evidence-based solutions.

Effective advocacy helps ensure that maternal health remains a priority on local, national, and international health agendas. By presenting credible evidence, engaging policymakers, and collaborating with healthcare organizations, nurse leaders can influence legislation that improves maternal and newborn outcomes.

Successful advocacy initiatives often focus on:

• Expanding access to prenatal and postpartum care.

• Increasing funding for maternal health programs.

• Improving emergency obstetric services.

• Supporting maternal mortality review committees.

• Promoting standardized, evidence-based maternity care.

• Addressing health disparities affecting vulnerable populations.

Advocacy is most effective when supported by clinical evidence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong communication strategies. Cullerton et al. (2018) emphasize that successful policy advocacy requires healthcare professionals to present evidence clearly, establish strategic partnerships, and communicate the long-term benefits of policy reform.

Key Insight: Effective advocacy enables nurse leaders to transform clinical evidence into policies that improve maternal healthcare quality, increase funding, and reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Collaboration Between Healthcare Organizations and Government Agencies

Reducing maternal and newborn mortality requires coordinated efforts from healthcare providers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and community leaders. No single organization can address the complex factors contributing to maternal mortality independently.

Healthcare organizations play a central role by implementing evidence-based clinical practices, while government agencies establish regulations, allocate funding, and monitor national maternal health indicators. Community organizations further strengthen these efforts by improving outreach, health education, and access to supportive services.

Successful collaboration contributes to:

• Standardized maternal care protocols.

• Improved continuity of care across healthcare settings.

• Better access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum services.

• Increased availability of emergency obstetric care.

• Expanded maternal health education initiatives.

• Enhanced data collection and maternal mortality surveillance.

NU507 Module 5

Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF encourage partnerships that strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to respectful, high-quality maternity care. Collaborative initiatives also support workforce development by providing ongoing education, professional training, and quality improvement programs for healthcare providers.

Strong partnerships ensure that healthcare policies move beyond legislation and produce measurable improvements in clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Evidence Snapshot: Collaboration between healthcare organizations, government agencies, and community partners creates stronger maternal healthcare systems by improving coordination, resource allocation, and access to evidence-based care.

Increasing Public Awareness to Prevent Maternal Mortality

Public awareness is essential for preventing pregnancy-related complications because informed women and families are more likely to recognize warning signs, attend prenatal appointments, and seek emergency medical care when necessary.

Many maternal deaths occur because complications are not identified early or because women delay seeking treatment due to limited knowledge, financial challenges, or restricted access to healthcare services. Educational initiatives help overcome these barriers by increasing awareness of maternal health risks and available healthcare resources.

Nurse leaders can improve community awareness through evidence-based educational programs that focus on:

• The importance of early prenatal care.

• Recognizing pregnancy danger signs.

• Preparing for childbirth and postpartum recovery.

• Attending routine maternal health screenings.

• Understanding newborn care recommendations.

• Accessing emergency maternal healthcare services.

NU507 Module 5

Community education should be culturally appropriate, easy to understand, and accessible through multiple channels, including healthcare facilities, schools, community organizations, digital health platforms, and public health campaigns.

Family involvement is equally important because partners and caregivers often influence healthcare decisions. Educating families enables them to recognize maternal complications and support women in obtaining timely medical care.

Smith and Shiffman (2016) note that public awareness campaigns significantly influence political commitment by demonstrating the human and economic consequences of preventable maternal deaths. Increased public understanding encourages policymakers to prioritize investments in maternal health programs.

Clinical Perspective: Community education empowers women and families to recognize pregnancy complications early, increasing timely healthcare utilization and reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Applying the Health Belief Model to Maternal-Newborn Health

Behavioral theories provide valuable guidance for designing maternal health interventions that encourage preventive healthcare practices. One of the most widely used frameworks is the Health Belief Model (HBM), which explains how individual beliefs influence health-related behaviors.

The Health Belief Model suggests that women are more likely to engage in preventive maternal healthcare when they:

• Understand their personal risk of pregnancy complications.

• Recognize the seriousness of maternal health conditions.

• Believe that preventive healthcare provides meaningful benefits.

• Experience minimal barriers to accessing healthcare.

• Receive reminders or encouragement to seek care.

This framework helps healthcare providers develop education programs that motivate women to attend prenatal visits, participate in health screenings, and seek medical attention when complications arise.

Key Insight: The Health Belief Model supports maternal health by encouraging preventive behaviors through education, risk awareness, and improved access to healthcare services.

Applying the Health Belief Model in Maternal Healthcare

Nurse leaders can integrate the Health Belief Model into patient education, community outreach, and maternal health policy implementation to improve preventive healthcare behaviors.

Perceived Susceptibility

Women are more likely to seek preventive care when they understand that every pregnancy carries potential risks. Healthcare professionals should educate mothers about complications such as gestational hypertension, postpartum hemorrhage, infections, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.

Personalized risk assessments help women understand their individual health status and encourage earlier engagement with healthcare services.

Perceived Severity

Understanding the consequences of untreated pregnancy complications motivates women to seek timely medical attention. Educational programs should explain that delayed treatment may increase the risk of maternal disability, preterm birth, neonatal complications, or maternal mortality.

Clear communication about the seriousness of maternal health conditions reinforces the importance of routine prenatal monitoring.

Perceived Benefits

Women are more likely to participate in maternal healthcare when they recognize the positive outcomes associated with preventive services.

Healthcare providers should emphasize that regular prenatal care contributes to:

• Early identification of pregnancy complications.

• Improved fetal growth monitoring.

• Healthier pregnancy outcomes.

• Reduced maternal morbidity.

• Safer childbirth experiences.

• Better postpartum recovery.

Understanding these benefits strengthens patient engagement and supports informed healthcare decision-making.

Perceived Barriers

Even when women understand the importance of maternal healthcare, barriers may prevent them from accessing services. Common challenges include financial hardship, transportation limitations, childcare responsibilities, cultural beliefs, language differences, and shortages of healthcare professionals.

Nurse leaders should collaborate with healthcare organizations and community partners to reduce these obstacles by expanding outreach programs, improving healthcare accessibility, and promoting culturally competent care.

Cues to Action

External reminders encourage women to seek healthcare before complications develop. Effective cues include appointment reminders, mobile health applications, community outreach initiatives, educational campaigns, and recommendations from healthcare providers.

Family members, community health workers, and nurse-led support programs also reinforce preventive maternal healthcare behaviors.

Ogbuabor and Onwujekwe (2018) highlight that successful maternal health policies address both individual health behaviors and healthcare system capacity. Combining patient education with stronger healthcare infrastructure creates sustainable improvements in maternal and newborn outcomes.

Designing Effective Strategies for Maternal Health Policy Implementation

Successful maternal health policies require structured planning, stakeholder engagement, resource allocation, and continuous evaluation. Healthcare organizations must establish implementation strategies that translate policy objectives into measurable improvements in patient care.

The planning process begins by assessing maternal health challenges within specific communities. Maternal mortality statistics, healthcare utilization data, patient outcomes, and quality indicators provide evidence supporting policy development and implementation.

Effective implementation planning includes:

• Identifying priority maternal health concerns.

• Assessing available healthcare resources.

• Reviewing existing maternal care guidelines.

• Establishing measurable performance indicators.

• Engaging healthcare professionals and community stakeholders.

• Developing evidence-based clinical protocols.

Healthcare organizations should also evaluate organizational readiness before introducing new initiatives. Assessments should examine workforce capacity, emergency maternal services, technological resources, leadership support, and access to community partnerships.

Evidence Snapshot: Successful maternal health policy implementation begins with data-driven planning, stakeholder engagement, organizational readiness, and evidence-based clinical protocols.

Establishing Short-Term and Long-Term Policy Goals

Clearly defined objectives help healthcare organizations monitor progress and maintain accountability throughout policy implementation.

Short-Term Goals

Early implementation efforts should focus on strengthening clinical practice and increasing awareness. Examples include:

• Expanding maternal health education programs.

• Training healthcare professionals on updated clinical guidelines.

• Increasing awareness of pregnancy warning signs.

• Improving interdisciplinary communication.

• Enhancing prenatal screening and referral processes.

Long-Term Goals

Long-term strategies should promote sustainable healthcare improvements by focusing on system-wide change. These objectives may include:

• Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

• Expanding equitable access to reproductive healthcare.

• Strengthening family planning services.

• Improving healthcare infrastructure.

• Integrating maternal health policies into organizational standards.

• Building sustainable partnerships between healthcare systems and communities.

Establishing measurable goals enables healthcare organizations to evaluate program effectiveness and continuously refine maternal health initiatives based on emerging evidence.

Conclusion

Maternal-newborn health remains a critical global health priority because the majority of maternal and neonatal deaths can be prevented through timely access to high-quality healthcare, evidence-based clinical practices, and supportive public policies. Although considerable progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality worldwide, persistent healthcare disparities, resource limitations, and unequal access to maternal services continue to place millions of women and newborns at risk.

Improving maternal and newborn outcomes requires a coordinated approach that integrates nursing leadership, policy reform, healthcare system strengthening, and community engagement. Policies such as the Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMS) Act demonstrate how legislative initiatives can promote standardized maternity care, expand provider education, strengthen maternal mortality review programs, and improve the quality of healthcare services.

NU507 Module 5

Nurse leaders are instrumental in translating maternal health policies into clinical practice. Through advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient education, quality improvement initiatives, and evidence-based decision-making, nurses help create safer healthcare environments for mothers and infants. Their leadership also ensures that healthcare organizations remain responsive to emerging maternal health challenges while promoting equitable access to care.

Long-term improvements in maternal-newborn health depend on continuous evaluation, sustainable funding, workforce development, and collaboration among governments, healthcare organizations, and local communities. By prioritizing prevention, patient-centered care, and health equity, healthcare systems can significantly reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths while improving the overall quality of maternity care worldwide.

Key Takeaway: Strengthening nursing leadership, implementing evidence-based maternal health policies, improving healthcare access, and addressing health disparities are essential strategies for reducing preventable maternal and newborn mortality and achieving better global health outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is maternal-newborn health?

Maternal-newborn health refers to the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as the health of newborns during the first weeks of life. It focuses on preventing complications, reducing mortality, and ensuring safe, high-quality care for both mothers and infants.

Why is maternal-newborn health considered a global health priority?

Maternal-newborn health is a global priority because healthy pregnancies and safe childbirth improve infant survival, strengthen families, and contribute to healthier communities. Preventing maternal and neonatal deaths also supports health equity and sustainable healthcare systems.

What are the leading causes of maternal mortality?

The most common causes of maternal mortality include:

• Severe postpartum hemorrhage

• Hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia and eclampsia

• Pregnancy-related infections (sepsis)

• Obstructed labor

• Unsafe abortion complications

• Limited access to emergency obstetric care

Most of these conditions are preventable or treatable with timely, evidence-based healthcare.

How do nurse leaders improve maternal and newborn health outcomes?

Nurse leaders improve maternal and newborn health by:

• Promoting evidence-based clinical practices.

• Educating patients and healthcare professionals.

• Leading quality improvement initiatives.

• Advocating for maternal health policies.

• Supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Addressing healthcare disparities and improving access to care.

What is the purpose of the MOMS Act?

The Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMS) Act aims to reduce maternal mortality by improving healthcare quality, strengthening maternal mortality review programs, supporting provider education, enhancing data collection, and promoting evidence-based maternity care across healthcare systems.

How does the Health Belief Model support maternal health?

The Health Belief Model helps healthcare providers understand how women’s beliefs about pregnancy risks influence their healthcare decisions. It encourages preventive behaviors such as attending prenatal appointments, recognizing pregnancy warning signs, seeking timely medical care, and following postpartum recommendations.

What strategies can reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths?

Effective strategies include:

• Expanding access to prenatal and postpartum care.

• Increasing the availability of skilled birth attendants.

• Improving emergency obstetric services.

• Strengthening nursing leadership and workforce education.

• Implementing evidence-based maternal health policies.

• Addressing healthcare disparities and social determinants of health.

• Promoting community education and early risk identification.

Why are evidence-based maternal health policies important?

Evidence-based policies ensure that maternal healthcare practices are supported by scientific research and proven clinical guidelines. These policies improve patient safety, standardize maternity care, reduce preventable complications, and strengthen healthcare quality across diverse populations.

References

Baltzell, K., McLemore, M., Shattell, M., & Rankin, S. (2017). Impacts on global health from nursing research. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 96(4), 765–766. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0918

Cullerton, K., Donnet, T., Lee, A., & Gallegos, D. (2018). Effective advocacy strategies for influencing government nutrition policy: A conceptual model. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15, Article 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0716-y

Kodama, Y., & Fukahori, H. (2017). Nurse managers’ attributes to promote change in their wards: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 4(4), 209–217. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.87

Lazzerini, M., Valente, E. P., Covi, B., Semenzato, C., & Ciuch, M. (2019). Use of WHO standards to improve quality of maternal and newborn hospital care: A study collecting both mothers’ and staff perspectives in a tertiary care hospital in Italy. BMJ Open Quality, 8(1), e000525. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000525

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Manu, A., Arifeen, S., Williams, J., Mwasanya, E., Zaka, N., Plowman, B. A., Jackson, D., Wobil, P., & Dickson, K. (2018). Assessment of facility readiness for implementing the WHO/UNICEF standards for improving quality of maternal and newborn care in health facilities. BMC Health Services Research, 18, Article 531. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3334-0

Moller, A. B., Patten, J. H., Hanson, C., Morgan, A., Say, L., Diaz, T., & Moran, A. C. (2019). Monitoring maternal and newborn health outcomes globally: A brief history of key events and initiatives. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 24(12), 1342–1368. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13313

Ogbuabor, D. C., & Onwujekwe, O. E. (2018). Implementation of free maternal and child healthcare policies: Assessment of the influence of context and institutional capacity of health facilities in Southeast Nigeria. Global Health Action, 11(1), Article 1535031. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1535031

Smith, S. L., & Shiffman, J. (2016). Setting the global health agenda: The influence of advocates and ideas on political priority for maternal and newborn survival. Social Science & Medicine, 166, 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.013