In developing countries, a mother’s death in childbirth means that her newborn will almost certainly die and that her older children are more likely to suffer from , when mothers are malnourished, ill, or receive inade- quate care, their newborns face a higher risk of disease and premature death. 9 Almost one-quar- ter of newborns in developing countries are born low birth weight, largely due to their mothers’ poor health and nutritional status, which results in increased vulnerability to infection and a high- er risk of developmental problems. The quality of care that both mother and newborn receive during pregnancy, at delivery, and in the early postnatal period is essential to ensuring women remain healthy and.
