The goal of the present guideline is to consolidate guidance for effective interventions that are needed to reduce the global burden of maternal infections and its complications around the time of childbirth. This forms part of WHO's efforts towards improving the quality of care for leading causes of maternal death, especially those clustered around the time of childbirth in the post-MDG era. Specifically, it presents evidence-based recommendations on interventions for preventing and treating genital tract infections during labor, childbirth or puerperium, with the aim of improving outcomes for both mothers and newborns.

The primary audience for this guideline is health professionals who are responsible for developing national and local health protocols and policies, as well as managers of maternal and child health programs and policy-makers in all settings. The guideline will also be useful to those directly providing care to pregnant women including obstetricians, midwives, nurses, and general practitioners. The information in this guideline will be useful for developing job aids and tools for both pre- and inservice training of health workers to enhance their delivery of care to prevent and treat maternal peripartum infections.