IMNCH 2026 Side Event: (OB POCUS) Reducing Maternal Deaths at the Frontline

This side event will explore how Obstetric Point-of-Care Ultrasound (OB-POCUS) is strengthening frontline maternal care by enabling healthcare providers to identify high-risk pregnancies during routine antenatal visits quickly. Portable ultrasound used at the point of care can help detect complications such as placenta previa, multiple pregnancies, fetal malpresentation, and abnormal fetal growth, conditions that often go unnoticed until late in pregnancy but are major contributors to preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Bringing ultrasound closer to primary healthcare facilities allows providers to make faster, more informed clinical decisions and initiate timely referrals when complications are detected. Evidence from implementation programs across low- and middle-income countries shows that access to point-of-care ultrasound improves early risk identification and supports better pregnancy monitoring, particularly in underserved settings.

Hosted alongside the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference 2026, this session will convene clinicians, policymakers, and innovators to discuss practical approaches to expanding OB-POCUS access and strengthening maternal health services at the frontline of care.

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Host or Publisher Center for Public Health & Development, PATH