Early essential newborn care (EENC): The prioritized intervention to end preventable newborn deaths

Abstract

Newborn death accounts for half of under 5 child death in China. Decreasing neonatal mortality and improving health status of children at early stage of life have great significance on public health. This is also a solution to accomplish the goal of "ending preventable newborn deaths" of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to the World Health Organization, many causes leading to newborn deaths can be prevented and avoided by simple interventions. "Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) " is a package of simple interventions that include early mother to child skin to skin contact, delayed umbilical cord clamping, breast feeding, kangaroo mother care for preterm, neonatal resuscitation, and infection identifying and treatment. These prioritized evidence-based interventions can improve the content and quality of newborn health care, which are bound to be promoted and implemented throughout the country. Future research should be conducted to explore solutions to solve difficulties and challenges of EENC implementation.