Improving Maternal and Newborn Postnatal Care: Application of WHO Quality Standards in Clinical Practice

Background: Postnatal care remains the most neglected phase of maternal and newborn services in West Africa, contributing to persistent preventable mortality. Objective: To scope and synthesize evidence on the application of the World Health Organization quality standards for maternal and newborn postnatal care in clinical practice. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework, enhanced with PRISMA-ScR reporting, guided the review. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and African Journals Online were searched (2014 to 2025) for primary studies, reviews and WHO policy documents. Two reviewers independently screened records and charted data. Results: Sixty-four records met inclusion criteria. Evidence clustered around eight WHO quality standards: immediate postnatal assessment, essential newborn care, postnatal monitoring, complication readiness, respectful care, communication and education, psychosocial support, and continuity of care. West African studies (n=27) highlighted workforce shortages, commodity gaps and weak referral systems as dominant barriers, while mentorship, midwifery-led models and community linkages enabled implementation. Conclusion: Translating WHO quality standards into routine postnatal practice in West Africa requires sustained investment in nurse-midwifery workforce, essential commodities and integrated referral systems.