Monitoring Environmental Health in Maternal and Newborn Health Programs in Health Care Facilities

Many health care facilities in low-and middle-income countries have substandard water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities and lack adequate infection prevention and control items, policies, protocols, and behaviors. These inadequate conditions lead to higher rates of health care acquired infections and increased rates of morbidity and mortality.
The objectives of this brief are to review common and effective indicators for monitoring environmental health conditions and measuring improvements in maternal and newborn health care as well as recommend opportunities to enhance monitoring of environmental health in maternal and newborn health care settings.