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UNICEF & Pampers Helping Prevent Tetanus
Pampers.com
unicefusa.org
The Truth About Maternal
and Neonatal Tetanus
  • Neonatal tetanus is the most easily preventable cause of neonatal deaths.
    In spite of major progress made, the disease kills about one child every three minutes.
  • As of 2004, neonatal tetanus is responsible for about 3-4% of all the neonatal deaths and up to 40% in some areas with limited or no access to health services, or about 128,000 deaths annually.[1]
  • A woman protected against tetanus with two doses of tetanus vaccine, before she delivers her baby, will be protected against the disease for three years and will share her protection with her baby who will have sufficient maternal antibodies to be protected against tetanus for the first two months of its life.
  • In September 2008, Salma Hayek, spokesperson for the Pampers "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign to benefit UNICEF, visited Sierra Leone to witness firsthand the impact the program is having to save the lives of women and their newborns.  Thanks to the support of partners like Pampers, Sierra Leone has made great progress in the fight against MNT, and is currently one of 13 countries targeted to achieve tetanus elimination by the end of 2009.
  • Tetanus is a deadly disease caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani that live on dead and decaying matter in soil, animal dung and feces. The disease usually begins with the contamination of an open wound.  When the bacteria enter the open wound they produce a nerve toxin (poison), affecting the central nervous system and causing painful and uncontrolled muscle spasms. Death due to tetanus is one of the most painful deaths known to man.
  • Neonatal tetanus is tetanus acquired by the newborn baby during the birthing process or in the first few days of life either due to unhygienic birthing practices including delivery with unclean hands, on unclean floor or other contaminated surface, use of unsterile instruments to cut the umbilical cord or due to unhygienic cord care practices including applying cow dung, ashes, mud or ghee to the cord stump.
  • In newborns, tetanus is a painful illness, with symptoms appearing three days after infection causing spasms and tightening of muscles in the newborn’s jaw, facial muscles and neck and later, in the back and abdomen. The baby’s mouth grows so rigid that it becomes “locked” and the child cannot breastfeed. The newborn’s body may stiffen or arch and he or she may have spasms when stimulated by light, sound or touch. Finally, the newborn may no longer be able to breathe and therefore dies.
  • Maternal tetanus is tetanus acquired by the mother during pregnancy or up to six weeks after delivery. In most cases, the infection occurs during delivery or abortion taking place in unhygienic circumstances. A mother can be infected with tetanus in various ways including assisting during childbirth with unclean hands, doing the procedure on an unclean surface, using unsterile instruments and dressings when performing obstetrical procedures and cutting umbilical cords.

Source: The Initiative to Eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus

For more information on tetanus, please visit:
http://www.unicefusa.org/hidden/why-tetanus-quick-facts.html

[1]
Stanfield JP, Galazka A. Neonatal tetanus in the world today. Bull World Health Organ 1984;    62: 647-69; WHO EPI. The global elimination of neonatal tetanus: progress to date. Wkly    Epidemiolo Rec 1993; 68: 277-82. WHO. Tetanus Vaccine: WHO position paper. Wkly   Epidemiolo Rec 2006; 81: 198-208.
Tetanus Vaccine Tracker
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Live, Learn and Thrive Touching lives, improving life. P&G™
P&G is committed to improving life for children in need through our Live, Learn and Thrive global cause. Through partnerships like the Pampers/UNICEF “1 Pack = 1 Vaccine” program, P&G aims to reach more than 250 million children by 2012 behind Live, Learn and Thrive. Click here to learn more.