International Center for Maternal and Newborn Health
Developing evidence-based practices and equity-centered strategies to save lives and promote maternal and infant health before, during, and after birth.
In recent decades, the world has made remarkable progress toward reducing maternal and child deaths. Yet significant inequities exist within and across countries. A child born in sub-Saharan Africa or in Southern Asia has 10 times higher risk of death in the first month of life than a child born in Australia or New Zealand. An adolescent girl living in a low-income country is 100 times more likely to die from maternal causes during her lifetime than an adolescent in a high-income country. In the United States, Black and American Indian women are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.
Most of these deaths are preventable. As a Center, we are committed to expanding access to life-saving interventions, addressing inequities in care, and finding innovative solutions to advance health and wellbeing of women and newborns worldwide.
Our Work
Collaborations
Our team partners with domestic and international stakeholders on community-based research.
Our People
Abdullah Baqui, DrPH 1990, MPH 1985, studies the major causes of neonatal, child, and maternal morbidity and mortality.
Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD ’09, implements and evaluates quality improvement initiatives in perinatal health, domestically and internationally.
Elizabeth Stierman, PhD ’22, MPH '11, evaluates approaches to improve quality of care, address social determinants, and advance equity in maternal and child health.
Projahnmo Project
Learn about our work with Projahnmo and how the lessons learned in Sylhet, Bangladesh provide a powerful approach to reducing the needless deaths of newborns globally.
Video by the Projahnmo Project.
About Us
We develop and evaluate innovations and strategies with the potential to save lives and improve the health of millions of mothers and babies.
Stories From the Field
Read personal stories from our team about the impact of their work around the world.
News & Events
- The Maryland Maternal Health Innovation Program Grant Renewed with Johns Hopkins
- Public Health in the Field: How Policy Can Help Solve The Black Maternal Health Crisis
- Raising the Stakes to Advance Equity in Black Maternal Health
- The New York Times on Simplified Antibiotic Use for Newborns Outside Hospitals
- Saving Newborn Lives
- Saving Mothers and Newborns by Empowering Community Workers: Lessons from Bangladesh, Application Nationwide in Tanzania