Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Assessing The Operational Feasibility And Acceptability Of An Inhalable Formulation Of Oxytocin For Improving Community-Based Prevention Of Postpartum Haemorrhage In Myanmar: A Qualitative Inquiry, Kyu Kyu Than, Victoria Oliver, Yasmin Mohamed, Thazin La, Pete Lambert, Michelle Mcintosh, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Objective: This study assessed the potential operational feasibility and acceptability of a heat-stable, inhaled oxytocin (IOT) product for community-based prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Myanmar.

Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted between June 2015 and February 2016 through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Research was conducted in South Dagon township (urban setting) and in Ngape and Thanlyin townships (rural settings) in Myanmar. Eleven focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers, healthcare providers and other key informants. All audio recordings were transcribed verbatim in Myanmar language and were translated into English. Thematic content analysis was done …

Incidence Of Unintended Pregnancy Among Female Sex Workers In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Frances H. Ampt, Lisa Willenberg, Paul A. Agius, Matthew Chersich, Stanley Luchters, Megan S. C. Lim

Population Health, East Africa

Objectives: To determine the incidence of unintended pregnancy among female sex workers (FSWs) in lowincome and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design: We searched MEDLINE, PsychInfo, Embase and Popline for papers published in English between January 2000 and January 2016, and Web of Science and Proquest for conference abstracts. Meta-analysis was performed on the primary outcomes using random effects models, with subgroup analysis used to explore heterogeneity.

Participants: Eligible studies targeted FSWs aged 15–49 years living or working in an LMIC.

Outcome measures: Studies were eligible if they provided data on one of two primary outcomes: incidence of unintended pregnancy and incidence …

Factors Associated With Social Participation Amongst Elders In Rural Sri Lanka: A Cross-Sectional Mixed Methods Analysis, Celeste Marsh, Paul A. Agius, Gamini Jayakody, Roshan Shajehan, Chandima Abeywickrema, Kelly Durrant, Stanley Luchters, Wendy Holmes

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Populations of low and middle-income countries are ageing rapidly; there is a need for policies that support an increase in the duration of old age lived in good health. There is growing evidence that social participation protects against morbidity and mortality, but few studies explore patterns of social participation. Analysis of baseline quantitative and qualitative data from a trial of the impact of Elders’ Clubs on health and wellbeing in the hill country of Sri Lanka provided an opportunity to better understand the extent of, and influences on, social participation among elders.

Methods: We analysed data from 1028 …

Expectant Fathers’ Participation In Antenatal Care Services In Papua New Guinea: A Qualitative Inquiry, Jessica Davis, Cathy Vaughan, Justine Nankinga, Lisa Davidson, Hellen Kigodi, Eileen Alalo, Liz Comrie-Thomson, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Background: The importance of engaging men in maternal and child health programs is well recognised internationally. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), men’s involvement in maternal and child health services remains limited and barriers and enablers to involving fathers in antenatal care have not been well studied. The purpose of this paper is to explore attitudes to expectant fathers participating in antenatal care, and to identify barriers and enablers to men‘s participation in antenatal care with their pregnant partner in PNG.

Methods: Twenty-eight focus group discussions were conducted with purposively selected pregnant women, expectant fathers, older men and older women across …

Addressing Multiple Modifiable Risks Through Structured Community-Based Learning Clubs To Improve Maternal And Infant Health And Infant Development In Rural Vietnam: Protocol For A Parallel Group Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial, Jane Fisher, Tuan Tran, Stanley Luchters, Thach D. Tran, David B. Hipgrave, Sarah Hanieh, Ha Tran, Julie Simpson, Trang Nguyen, Minh Le, Beverley-Ann Biggs

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction: Optimal early childhood development is an international priority. Risks during pregnancy and early childhood have lasting effects because growth is rapid. We will test whether a complex intervention addressing multiple modifiable risks: maternal nutrition, mental health, parenting capabilities, infant health and development and gender-based violence, is effective in reducing deficient cognitive development among children aged two in rural Vietnam.

Methods and analysis: The Learning Clubs intervention is a structured programme combining perinatal stage-specific information, learning activities and social support. It comprises 20 modules, in 19 accessible, facilitated groups for women at a community centre and one home visit. Evidence-informed …

A Tale Of Two Countries: Progress Towards Unaids 90‐90‐90 Targets In Botswana And Australia, Tafireyi Marukutira, Mark Stoove, Shahin Lockman, Lisa A. Mills, Tendani Gaolathe, Refeletswe Lebelonyane, Joseph N. Jarvis, Sherrie L. Kelly, David P. Wilson, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

UNAIDS 90‐90‐90 targets and Fast‐Track commitments are presented as precursors to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, through effecting a 90% reduction in new HIV infections and AIDS‐related deaths from 2010 levels (HIV epidemic control). Botswana, a low to middle‐income country with the third‐highest HIV prevalence, and Australia, a low‐prevalence high‐income country with an epidemic concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM), have made significant strides towards achieving the UNAIDS 90‐90‐90 targets. These two countries provide lessons for different epidemic settings. This paper discusses the lessons that can be drawn from Botswana and Australia with respect to their …

Impact Of Vision Impairment And Self-Reported Barriers To Vision Care: The Views Of Elders In Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka, W. Holmes, R. Shajehan, S. Kitnasamy, C. Abeywickrama, Y. Arsath, F. Gnanaraj, S. Inbaraj, G. Jayakody, K. Durran, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

The growing burden of vision impairment (VI) among older people is a development challenge in Asian countries. This study aimed to understand older people’s views and experiences about the impact of VI and barriers to eye care to inform policies to address this challenge. We conducted 12 focus group discussions in 2013 with retired Tamil and Sinhala elders in Nuwara Eliya district, Sri Lanka (n = 107). Data were analysed thematically. Older people described the broad impacts VI has on their lives. They worry about becoming dependent. VI restricts their ability to contribute to their families and communities, access …

Involving Men To Improve Maternal And Newborn Health: A Systematic Review Of The Effectiveness Of Interventions, Mariam Tokhi, Liz Comrie-Thomson, Jessica Davis, Anayda Portela, Matthew Chersich, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Emerging evidence and program experience indicate that engaging men in maternal and newborn health can have considerable health benefits for women and children in low- and middle-income countries. Previous reviews have identified male involvement as a promising intervention, but with a complex evidence base and limited direct evidence of effectiveness for mortality and morbidity outcomes.

Objective: To determine the effect of interventions to engage men during pregnancy, childbirth and infancy on mortality and morbidity, as well as effects on mechanisms by which male involvement is hypothesised to influence mortality and morbidity outcomes: home care practices, care-seeking, and couple relationships. …