This supplement, published in Health Policy and Planning (HPP), presents a comprehensive multi-country analysis of the changes in newborn care and survival from 2000-2010 and 5 detailed country case studies in order to better understand the process of taking solutions to scale and how to accelerate progress for reduction of mortality and morbidity.

It was authored by over 60 health experts with contributions from an additional 90 experts and coordinated by Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives program. These analyses took over 3 years, using multiple data streams and new approaches to standardizing qualitative data regarding policy and program change.

The five detailed country case studies demonstrate that changing the trajectory for newborn survival is possible even in challenging settings when focus is placed on reaching the poorest families with the most effective interventions. Low-income countries, such as Bangladesh, Malawi and Nepal that are on track to meet the 2015 target of Millennium Development Goal 4 have reduced newborn deaths at about double the rate that their neighbours have.

The HPP series includes comprehensive analyses of how Bangladesh, Nepal and Malawi are leaders in reducing newborn deaths; how Uganda has made strides in policy change for newborns; and how in Pakistan national partnerships and champions have kept newborn health on the agenda despite challenges including earthquakes and floods.