Maternal, Newborn, and Reproductive Health
Core concepts
Community maternal-newborn care spans antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal, and newborn periods. Know risk assessment, danger signs (bleeding, severe headache, fever, reduced fetal movement), essential newborn care (warmth, breastfeeding, cord care, immunization), and postpartum care (hemorrhage, infection, depression screening). Understand family planning methods, adolescent reproductive health, and safe motherhood initiatives. Familiarity with WHO/UNICEF guidance and Millennium/SDG targets helps.
Traps in questions
- Missing postpartum hemorrhage as the leading cause of maternal death.
- Confusing exclusive breastfeeding duration (6 months) with continued breastfeeding (up to 2 years).
- Overlooking postpartum depression screening.
- Recommending contraindicated contraceptives in specific conditions.
- Ignoring danger signs that require urgent referral.
Worked example / rule of thumb
A mother reports heavy bleeding and dizziness after delivery. Priority: assess for postpartum hemorrhage and refer urgently-do not delay for routine teaching. Rule of thumb: in maternal-newborn questions, safety and referral first, then education.
Key teaching points
Recognize danger signs early. Essential newborn care saves lives. Screen for postpartum depression.