Prior to discharging women and newborns after birth from the health facility to the home, health workers should assess the following criteria to improve maternal and newborn outcomes:

• the woman’s and baby’s physical well-being and the woman’s emotional well-being;
• the skills and confidence of the woman to care for herself and the skills and confidence of the parents

and caregivers to care for the newborn; and

• the home environment and other factors that may influence the ability to provide care for the woman

and the newborn in the home, and care-seeking behaviour