This report examines critical issues in maternal and newborn health, underscoring the need to establish a comprehensive continuum of care for mothers, newborns and children. The report looks at variables that impact maternal and newborn health worldwide, including nutrition, poverty, disease, gender discrimination, and harmful cultural practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. The report outlines the latest paradigms in health programming and policies for mothers and newborns, and explores policies, programs and partnerships aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health. Africa and Asia are a key focus for this report, which complements the previous year's issue on child survival.

The State of the World’s Children 2009: Maternal and Newborn Health [1]