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Full-Text Articles in Public Health

Introducing And Pilot-Testing The National Guidelines On Integrating The Management Of Stis/Rtis Into Reproductive Health Settings In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saiqa Mullick, Ian Askew, Nathalie Broutet, Bartilol Kigen, Cosmas Mutunga, Daniel Sande, Nimrod Garama, Benjamin Tsofa, Christine Awuor, Ibrahim Mohammed Jan 2010

Introducing And Pilot-Testing The National Guidelines On Integrating The Management Of Stis/Rtis Into Reproductive Health Settings In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saiqa Mullick, Ian Askew, Nathalie Broutet, Bartilol Kigen, Cosmas Mutunga, Daniel Sande, Nimrod Garama, Benjamin Tsofa, Christine Awuor, Ibrahim Mohammed

Reproductive Health

This report evaluated a project in ten Kenyan health facilities. It examined the feasibility, acceptability and effect of introducing reproductive tract infection and sexually transmitted infection (RTI/STI) guidelines on the quality of care provided, and the incremental costs of integrating these services into existing reproductive health (RH) services; it also disseminated the results and lessons learnt within Kenya. Overall, the results showed that integration of activities to screen for and manage STIs/RTIs into RH services is feasible, acceptable to clients and providers, and effective in improving the range and quality of services offered to clients.


Increasing Institutional Delivery And Access To Emergency Obstetric Care Services In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council Jan 2010

Increasing Institutional Delivery And Access To Emergency Obstetric Care Services In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Population Council conducted a formative in rural Uttar Pradesh (UP), India to determine the impact of the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme on the current status of institutional delivery in the region, to understand the facilitating factors and barriers in delivering in a health facility, and to identify programmatic and behavior change communication (BCC) initiatives that could accelerate the adoption of institutional delivery. JSY was launched as an intervention to address the barriers to institutional delivery, through the introduction of community-based women volunteers. The study shows that with the introduction of the JSY the rate of institutional delivery jumped …


The Pregnancy Cycle Approach To Safe Motherhood, Saumya Ramarao, Sarah Raifman Jan 2010

The Pregnancy Cycle Approach To Safe Motherhood, Saumya Ramarao, Sarah Raifman

Reproductive Health

The Population Council's Reproductive Health program partnered with the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF), the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), and the PAC Consortium, to address the UN Millenium Development Goal of improving maternal health, and reducing child mortality. Specifically this brief examines the pregnancy cycle approach whereby women’s needs from facilitating a desired pregnancy to successful parturition are addressed in a range of settings—home, community and health facility. This brief covers the different stages including abortion and postabortion care, antenatal care, delivery, and postpartum and beyond.


Maternal And Neonatal Health Services In Sudan: Results Of A Situation Analysis, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Maha El-Rabbat Jan 2010

Maternal And Neonatal Health Services In Sudan: Results Of A Situation Analysis, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Maha El-Rabbat

Reproductive Health

This project brief is based on the results of a situation analysis (SA) study that was done collaboratively by the Population Council and Sudan Ministry of Health (MOH) with funds from UNFPA, UNICEF, and Packard Foundation. The analysis showed an uneven distribution of reproductive health (RH) staff across Sudan, and nurses and nurse midwives are the key in RH services. There was also limited access to family planning services. Antenatal care was limited, and pregnant women in the study seldom received counseling on birth spacing or birth preparedness. Birth attendants also lacked adequate knowledge and skills. Emergency obstetric care was …


Future Demands For Services From Public Health Facilities In Uttar Pradesh, Population Council Jan 2010

Future Demands For Services From Public Health Facilities In Uttar Pradesh, Population Council

Reproductive Health

A Population Council-led consortium in India conducted a study to assess (a) the expected workload of public health facilities, and (b) the extent to which the demand for contraception could be met by the existing health facilities in Uttar Pradesh, following the implementation of behavior change communication (BCC) activities. This policy brief recommends that BCC efforts create demand for services and address perceptions that it is “not necessary” to access health care services. BCC must play a greater role in motivating women to move to facilities not just for institutional delivery but for other services as well. BCC can also …


Increasing Early And Exclusive Breastfeeding In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council Jan 2010

Increasing Early And Exclusive Breastfeeding In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Population Council conducted a formative study in rural Uttar Pradesh, India to determine the current status of early and exclusive breastfeeding, understand the facilitating factors and barriers in adopting the desired breastfeeding practices, and identify programmatic and behavior change communication (BCC) initiatives to promote the practice. Findings indicate that efforts by Primary Health Centre staff to counsel and encourage women to breastfeed early could significantly increase adoption of this practice. The policy brief identifies barriers that reflect a lack of knowledge and misperceptions about breastfeeding, but finds that education, supportive family members, and knowledgeable health workers can facilitate breastfeeding. …


Increasing Complete Immunization In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council Jan 2010

Increasing Complete Immunization In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Population Council conducted a formative study in rural Uttar Pradesh, India to determine the current rate of compliance for recommended schedules of child immunization, identify the barriers and factors facilitating the uptake of full immunization, and identify behavior change communication (BCC) initiatives that could accelerate adoption of this practice. This policy brief identifies a number of barriers to immunization: low risk perception, lack of faith in vaccines, lack of knowledge about vaccines, fear of side effects, lack of family support, and lack of knowledge about location and type of services available. The brief also identifies several facilitating factors and …


Role Of The Corporate Sector In Promoting Family Health In Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council Jan 2010

Role Of The Corporate Sector In Promoting Family Health In Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Confederation of Indian Industry, a partner in the Population Council–led Consortium, took the lead to explore a) the role of the corporate sector in family health in Uttar Pradesh, India; b) the possibility of partnering with this sector to design, leverage, and implement a behavior change communication (BCC) strategy; and c) the support and assistance the sector would require to ensure better planning and implementation of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Based on the findings, this policy brief identified the following, with implications for BCC strategy: corporate partnerships have the potential to scale up initiatives; companies can leverage …


A Strategy For The Reduction Of Maternal And Neonatal Mortality, Population Council Jan 2010

A Strategy For The Reduction Of Maternal And Neonatal Mortality, Population Council

Reproductive Health

As part of the strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, the introduction of a minimum integrated package of maternal and newborn care including Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMTSL) and Essential Newborn Care (ENC) are simple and inexpensive approaches in poor countries. This brief reports on a study conducted by the Senegal Ministry of Health and Prevention, with support from IntraHealth and the Population Council, whose objectives included: 1) evaluating the functional capacity of the targeted health structures to offer the AMTSL and ENC, 2) evaluating the knowledge and skills of the providers, and 3) identifying …


Proceedings And Presentations From The Free State Child Abuse Indaba, Population Council Jan 2010

Proceedings And Presentations From The Free State Child Abuse Indaba, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Free State Department of Health and its partners held a “first-of-its kind” Child Sexual Assault Indaba (conference) in South Africa to streamline relationships between services for effective prevention and management of child abuse. This report details the presentations delivered at the conference, which was a resounding success, with participation from a wide range of stakeholders. The recurring theme of all the presentations was the urgent need to unite and fight against child sexual assault. The most appropriate strategy was unanimous—information—and clarity in terms of the role of each stakeholder. The Free State Department of Health will coordinate the development …


Life-Skills Education Leads To Improved Effect On Adolescents' Sexual Behavior, Population Council Jan 2010

Life-Skills Education Leads To Improved Effect On Adolescents' Sexual Behavior, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project (KARHP) was a three-pronged program implemented in schools, communities, and health facilities, to provide information and services to adolescents in order to improve their reproductive health outcomes. This operations research summary from the Population Council sought to discover whether the activities started under the project and desired reproductive health outcomes had been sustained in the 10-year period since inception, and to identify challenges experienced in sustaining the model. Although the survey suggests that the efforts to sustain KARHP/ASRH activities may be having desirable behavioral outcomes among adolescents, there is a need to strengthen these …


Greenstar Social Marketing Private-Sector Activities In Paiman Project: Process Evaluation Of Greenstar Social Marketing Initiatives To Improve And Expand Maternal And Newborn Health Services And Coverage, Munir Afridi Jan 2010

Greenstar Social Marketing Private-Sector Activities In Paiman Project: Process Evaluation Of Greenstar Social Marketing Initiatives To Improve And Expand Maternal And Newborn Health Services And Coverage, Munir Afridi

Reproductive Health

The Population Council provided support for this process evaluation of Greenstar Social Marketing which established a healthcare private provider network (GoodLife clinics) primarily in the urban areas in 10 districts of the PAIMAN project in Pakistan. This network provides maternal and newborn health and reproductive health and family planning services and products. The information collected in this survey points to areas where Greenstar strategies are close to being fully met as well as to areas where the strategies are not being met. The detailed findings should allow Greenstar to focus on those areas most in need of attention: all groups—provider, …


Initial Assessment Of Community Midwives In Rural Pakistan, Abdul Wajid, Zubaida Rashid, Ali M. Mir Jan 2010

Initial Assessment Of Community Midwives In Rural Pakistan, Abdul Wajid, Zubaida Rashid, Ali M. Mir

Reproductive Health

The goal of this Population Council study, funded by USAID through the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) project, was to assess the potential of community midwifery services in rural Pakistan in order to provide necessary evidence for future decisions regarding the training, practice, and placement of community midwives (CMWs). The introduction of a new cadre of skilled birth attendants is significant, especially at a time when Pakistan is working toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The report makes the following recommendations: 1) opportunities for practical training should be followed meticulously; 2) selection criteria should be revised especially for …


Improving Maternal And Neonatal Health: Measuring The Impact Of The Paiman Project In Ten Districts In Pakistan—Comparing Baseline And End-Line Household Survey Findings (2005-2010), Arshad Mahmood Jan 2010

Improving Maternal And Neonatal Health: Measuring The Impact Of The Paiman Project In Ten Districts In Pakistan—Comparing Baseline And End-Line Household Survey Findings (2005-2010), Arshad Mahmood

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) project was implemented by a consortium including the Population Council to assist the Government of Pakistan to improve the status of maternal and newborn health in 10 districts. PAIMAN strategized specific interventions designed to improve awareness and promote positive maternal and neonatal health behaviors; to increase access to maternal and child health services; to improve service quality in the public and private sectors to manage obstetric and neonatal complications; to increase the capacity of healthcare system managers and providers in maternal and neonatal health; and to improve management and integration of services …


Improving The Health Care Response To Gender-Based Violence: Project Evaluation Report, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Mai Quoc Tung Jan 2010

Improving The Health Care Response To Gender-Based Violence: Project Evaluation Report, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Mai Quoc Tung

Reproductive Health

Consistent with previous studies, this study provides evidence that gender-based violence (GBV) remains a problem in Viet Nam with indications that it may be on the increase. In 2009 the Population Council Viet Nam in collaboration with the Hanoi Health Department, carried out an evaluation among the staff of Duc Giang Hospital to assess the extent to which awareness and perceptions of GBV had changed since a pilot intervention project commenced in 2005. Overall the project has been very effective in raising awareness and willingness to integrate GBV screening in the health services. This report documents the results and lists …


Effect Of Dai Training On Maternal And Neonatal Care: An Operations Research Study, Peter C. Miller, Gul Rashida, Abdul Wajid, Zeba Tasneem, Lubna Mahmood, Minhaj Ul Haque Jan 2010

Effect Of Dai Training On Maternal And Neonatal Care: An Operations Research Study, Peter C. Miller, Gul Rashida, Abdul Wajid, Zeba Tasneem, Lubna Mahmood, Minhaj Ul Haque

Reproductive Health

This study examines the use of training traditional birth attendants, or "dais" as they are known in Pakistan, to reduce maternal mortality. By training dais to adopt safer routine delivery, newborn care practices, and recognize and refer in case of emergencies, dais can improve maternal and neonatal health. While one group of women met with specially trained dais who received Safe Motherhood Applied Research Training (SMART), a control group met with dais who offered health services only. The objectives of this evaluation were to determine whether dais substantially improved their performance after attending the "SMART dai" training course, to determine …


Reach Of Media And Interpersonal Communication In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council Jan 2010

Reach Of Media And Interpersonal Communication In Rural Uttar Pradesh: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council

Reproductive Health

RK Swamy BBDO and the Population Council carried out an analysis to assess the reach of the media and interpersonal communication (IPC). The advertising agency and partner in a Population Council–led consortium analyzed data to explore the reach of various mass media and viewership patterns. The Population Council analyzed the reach of other sources of information, including mobile phones, mid-media, IPC, and mass media (print media, radio, and TV). This policy brief discusses describes the current status and trends in mass media exposure and media reach by audience segmentation. It also explores the reach of mid-media and IPC between frontline …


Process Evaluation Of Community Mobilization Activities, Zakir Hussain Shah Jan 2010

Process Evaluation Of Community Mobilization Activities, Zakir Hussain Shah

Reproductive Health

This report presents the findings of a process evaluation by the Population Council of community mobilization (CM) activities implemented under the PAIMAN project in Pakistan. PAIMAN developed a comprehensive communication, advocacy, and mobilization (CAM) strategy to increase knowledge and awareness of harmful practices among women and their family and to improve their health-seeking behaviors. The CAM roadmap acknowledges the importance of engaging communities in order to achieve behavior change and links clients with providers and services. The main objective of this evaluation was to assess the process of CM implementation and to identify its gaps in order to develop corrective …


Manual On Financial Mechanism For The Health Facilities: Introducing Pay-For-Performance Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Laila Rahman, Dipak Kumar Shil, Md. Mamun-Or Rashid, Ismat Ara Hena, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Farhana Akter, Anup Kumar Dey, Ripa Ali, Joynal Abedin, Mursheda Rahman, Md. Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Arifur Rahman, Md. Abdur Rab Sardar Jan 2010

Manual On Financial Mechanism For The Health Facilities: Introducing Pay-For-Performance Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Laila Rahman, Dipak Kumar Shil, Md. Mamun-Or Rashid, Ismat Ara Hena, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Farhana Akter, Anup Kumar Dey, Ripa Ali, Joynal Abedin, Mursheda Rahman, Md. Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Arifur Rahman, Md. Abdur Rab Sardar

Reproductive Health

The Population Council initiated an operations research study to test two Pay-for-Performance (P4P) strategies to improve maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in Bangladesh in 2010. The P4P study is being implemented as part of the two ongoing MNCH and maternal and newborn health (MNH) projects of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) implemented by the Directorate General of Health Services, Government of Bangladesh. The study has been testing two strategies. The first introduces incentives tied with performance for motivating service providers to improve the quantity as well as quality of services, and enable poor pregnant women, and mothers …


Facility Assessment Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Md. Akteruzzaman, Md. Sohel Rana, Ripa Ali Jan 2010

Facility Assessment Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Md. Akteruzzaman, Md. Sohel Rana, Ripa Ali

Reproductive Health

Under the leadership of the Directorate General of Health Services, the Population Council in collaboration with James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University and with support from UNICEF is testing an innovative service delivery model to provide financial incentives to institutions to enhance their performance on maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in three districts of Bangladesh as part of GOB-UNICEF’s ongoing MNCH/MNH projects. A comparative analysis on the availability and condition of physical and human assets across 16 health facilities will inform what is needed in a facility in terms of inputs and processes. This report …


A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities: Lessons And Tools From Sexual Violence Services In Africa, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson Jan 2010

A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities: Lessons And Tools From Sexual Violence Services In Africa, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson

Reproductive Health

Sexual violence (SV) is a serious health and human rights problem across Africa that disproportionately affects women and girls. Survivors require comprehensive and sensitive care to mitigate the negative health consequences of SV, minimize psychological trauma, and promote long-term reintegration and recovery. Despite high levels of sexual violence and a growing recognition of the need to improve the management of rape and sexual assault, many public health facilities in Africa do not currently have capacity to provide comprehensive, patient-centered SV care to adult and child survivors. Public facilities face numerous challenges including lack of specialized SV training, general understaffing and …


Future Of Family Planning Program In Bangladesh: Issues And Challenges, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan Jan 2010

Future Of Family Planning Program In Bangladesh: Issues And Challenges, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan

Reproductive Health

Bangladesh experienced large population growth in the past, but due to a successful family planning program, the total fertility rate (TFR) declined rapidly until the mid-nineties. Over the last decade, the country experienced a slow pace in fertility decline with a small increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR). This slow pace in fertility decline is causing serious concern for reaching replacement level fertility by 2015. CPR increased seven-fold from 1975 to 2000, but there was no significant increase from 2000-09, demonstrating the weakness of present program efforts. This raises concern among researchers, policymakers, and program managers about the prospect …


Planning And Implementing An Essential Package Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Services: Guidance For Integrating Family Planning And Sti/Rti With Other Reproductive Health And Primary Health Services, Katherine Williams, Charlotte E. Warren, Ian Askew Jan 2010

Planning And Implementing An Essential Package Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Services: Guidance For Integrating Family Planning And Sti/Rti With Other Reproductive Health And Primary Health Services, Katherine Williams, Charlotte E. Warren, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

The second goal of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA’s) 2008–11 Strategic Plan is “Universal access to reproductive health by 2015 and universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention by 2010 for improved quality of life.” UNFPA identified a number of outcomes that will contribute to achieving this goal. Through an extensive search of the published literature and collation of unpublished literature on programmatic experiences with developing and implementing integrated packages of SRH services, the Population Council gathered a body of evidence from which this guidance for UNFPA staff and national counterparts has been developed. UNFPA identified two priority areas: integrating …


Media Perspectives On Partnerships To Address Family Health In Northern India: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council Jan 2010

Media Perspectives On Partnerships To Address Family Health In Northern India: Implications For Behavior Change Communication, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Ideosync Media Combine, a partner in the Population Council-led consortium, conducted a qualitative study of media agencies to explore the perspectives of senior media managers in northern India on the following issues: (a) the decisionmaking process related to content; (b) the approaches adopted for audience targeting and feedback; (c) the extent of health-related coverage in the media and the process of prioritization of other development issues; and (d) partnership priorities and possibilities for collaboration. The policy brief discusses findings related to these issues and presents implications for the behavior change communication strategy.


Private Sector's Role In Health Service Provision In Senegal, Population Council Jan 2010

Private Sector's Role In Health Service Provision In Senegal, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In Senegal, private providers are a major source of health services, including contraceptive services, and private sector partnerships are a key component of the Ministry of Health strategy toward achieving national health objectives. This brief reports on SMNI/PF/PALU—a five-year USAID-bilateral project aiming to foster high-quality service delivery, and build strong links between all levels of the health system and communities, including between private and public health sectors. In Senegal, private businesses have hosted innovative advocacy activities, committed to health supplies and information management, and demonstrated a general interest in supporting a collaborative movement toward national health objectives. With private sector’s …


Assessing The Feasibility Of Home Administration Of Misoprostol In The Prevention Of Postpartum Hemorrhage In Rural Pakistan, Ali M. Mir, Abdul Wajid, Sadaf Gull Jan 2010

Assessing The Feasibility Of Home Administration Of Misoprostol In The Prevention Of Postpartum Hemorrhage In Rural Pakistan, Ali M. Mir, Abdul Wajid, Sadaf Gull

Reproductive Health

This report details an operations research project carried out by the Population Council as part of the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns. The overall goal of the project was to test the feasibility of administering misoprostol for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in a home setting through community‐based healthcare providers, including traditional birth attendants (TBAs), or family members, in two districts of Pakistan. Furthermore, it aimed to identify common side effects of misoprostol and determine the reduction in demand for referral due to PPH after oral ingestion of misoprostol. The results provide a useful addition to the literature …


Executive Summary: A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson Jan 2010

Executive Summary: A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson

Reproductive Health

This document contains an executive summary of “A step-by-step guide to strengthening sexual violence services in public health facilities: Lessons and tools from sexual violence services in Africa.” Sexual violence (SV) is a serious health and human rights problem across Africa that disproportionately affects women and girls. Survivors require comprehensive and sensitive care to mitigate the negative health consequences of SV, minimize psychological trauma, and promote long-term reintegration and recovery. Despite high levels of sexual violence and a growing recognition of the need to improve the management of rape and sexual assault, many public health facilities in Africa do not …


Public Expenditure On Health Care In Orissa: Focus On Reproductive And Child Health Services, Sarit Kumar Rout Jan 2010

Public Expenditure On Health Care In Orissa: Focus On Reproductive And Child Health Services, Sarit Kumar Rout

Reproductive Health

In view of the importance of public financing in influencing health outcomes and the paucity of studies that have explored patterns of resource allocation on reproductive and child health services, a study was undertaken in Orissa, India to examine the pattern of and trends in public expenditure on health care with a special focus on expenditure on reproductive and child health services. The study was part of the Population Council, India’s Health and Population Innovation Fellowship program. Findings indicate that major policy issues such as the transfer of power to panchayati raj institutions and those involving health administration and management, …


Deaths Of Women Of Reproductive Age: In-Depth Analysis Of Data From The Pakistan Demographic And Health Survey 2006-07, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman) Jan 2010

Deaths Of Women Of Reproductive Age: In-Depth Analysis Of Data From The Pakistan Demographic And Health Survey 2006-07, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Population Council, a partner of the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns project, was responsible for undertaking operations research and a program evaluation to revisit and conduct an in-depth analysis of 1,085 verbal autopsies. The analysis had the following objectives: to identify psycho-socio-cultural issues present in the lives of the women whose verbal autopsies were reviewed, to reassess category of maternal death, and to unpack the indirect maternal deaths. The review yielded important information as to the social determinants of women’s deaths in Pakistan. The major psychological and cultural factors identified with the deaths included poverty, neglect, ignorance, disenfranchisement, …


Transition To Marriage And Parenthood Among Youth In India, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council Jan 2010

Transition To Marriage And Parenthood Among Youth In India, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This Population Council policy brief documents the magnitude of early marriage and early childbearing in India and sheds light on young people’s marriage-related planning and preparedness for married life, and the nature of married life. While child marriage is particularly evident among young women, it is notable that significant proportions of young men too have married below the legal minimum age at marriage for males. Findings call for multi-pronged efforts to eliminate the practice of early marriage among young men and women, and to support newlywed young women. Ensuring that these programs reach young people and the influential adults in …