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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Activity Spotlight: Zika Prevention, Breakthrough Research
Activity Spotlight: Zika Prevention, Breakthrough Research
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
In collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION, an affiliated project led by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Breakthrough RESEARCH is supporting and strengthening USAID’s Zika response efforts to optimize social and behavior change programming to minimize negative pregnancy outcomes in USAID’s priority countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Breakthrough RESEARCH is leading an evidence review of commonly promoted Zika preventive behaviors and with Breakthrough ACTION will develop a process for prioritizing these behaviors using criteria considering efficacy, feasibility, and potential impact. A key outcome of this process will be an evidence-based list of priority prevention behaviors shared via …
Knowledge Of Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Knowledge Of Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
In Bangladesh between 1,000 and 1,200 women die every year from pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E), contributing to 20 percent of maternal deaths. It is the country’s second leading direct cause of maternal mortality. In addition to the burden of maternal mortality, when a mother dies her baby is at increased risk of dying during the first year of life. To fully understand community perceptions of PE/E, the Population Council conducted a landscape analysis in 12 upazilas in four districts. This brief presents those research findings, and concludes that stronger awareness of the importance of early antenatal care and of seeking …
A Systematic Review Of The Treatment And Management Of Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh, Karen Kirk, Amy Dempsey
A Systematic Review Of The Treatment And Management Of Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh, Karen Kirk, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
By 2015, at the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh had achieved a reduction in maternal deaths, however, despite the progress, there are still between 5,000 and 6,000 maternal deaths every year, with 20 percent the result of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E). To fully understand the key challenges, gaps, and interventions related to the prevention and treatment of PE/E at the national level, Ending Eclampsia conducted a systematic review of papers in Bangladesh published between 2000 and 2015 specifically looking at issues around the quality of care, gaps in the evidence, and barriers to accessing PE/E services. The main …
Enhancing Frontline Health Workers' Abilities To Improve Mnch Services In Cross River State Through Task Shifting/Sharing, Sylvia Adebajo, Ekechi Okereke, Friday Joseph
Enhancing Frontline Health Workers' Abilities To Improve Mnch Services In Cross River State Through Task Shifting/Sharing, Sylvia Adebajo, Ekechi Okereke, Friday Joseph
Reproductive Health
There is a shortage of qualified and skilled health professionals providing cost-effective maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in Cross River State, Nigeria. Frontline health workers (FLHWs) have the potential to learn new skills as part of a task-shifting and sharing (TSS) policy. This brief highlights the results of the TSS policy in Cross River state: village health workers identify and refer pregnant women in their communities to antenatal clinics and provide oral medications; community health workers perform initial case management and ensure quick referrals to secondary facilities for specialized care; nurses and midwives deliver MNCH interventions that are …
Landscape Analysis: Preventing And Managing Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Pakistan, Population Council
Landscape Analysis: Preventing And Managing Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Pakistan, Population Council
Reproductive Health
The Ending Eclampsia project conducted a landscape analysis to identify policy and program activities, as well as gaps and challenges around the prevention and treatment of PE/E and use of magnesium sulphate at the provincial and district levels in Pakistan. The analysis assessed the practices for PE/E prevention and treatment, prevalence of PE/E, associated complications, and contribution to maternal mortality and morbidity. This landscape analysis was a major study and one of the first of its kind in the country, blending multiple perspectives on provision of care through the public health system for pregnant women facing, or at risk of, …
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Katsina, Population Council
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Katsina, Population Council
Reproductive Health
As a partner on the Fistula Care Plus (FC+) project, the Population Council is conducting implementation research that tests solutions to treatment barriers. Formative research in Nigeria’s Katsina State found that a lack of knowledge among lower-level providers and women and families of how the condition occurs, where treatment is available, and the signs and symptoms of obstetric fistula, as well as transportation costs, affect women’s access to screening and repair. Baseline data reveal the necessity of a comprehensive intervention to address fistula treatment barriers in Katsina. Not only do primary healthcare providers lack adequate knowledge of fistula, referral, and …
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Cambodia, Population Council
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Cambodia, Population Council
Reproductive Health
Each day around the world, 830 women die from pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes. The second most common cause (after postpartum hemorrhage) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E)—life-threatening, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and excess protein in urine—which can lead to seizures and other fatal complications. One in four preterm infants dies as a result of its mother’s PE/E. These deaths are preventable, yet essential medicines and tools to treat this disorder are often unavailable in low-resource settings. This factsheet provides a graphic overview of the data surrounding this issue with a specific focus on Cambodia.
Florence: A Midwife Success Story, Amy Dempsey
Florence: A Midwife Success Story, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
Ebonyi State is one of three states in Nigeria where the Ending Eclampsia project provides trainings, mentoring, and supportive supervision focused specifically on pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) detection, prevention, and treatment measures. This brief reports on the success of one nurse/midwife who attended an Ending Eclampsia–led training on proper detection of pre-eclampsia, administration of the magnesium sulphate for severe cases, and referral of PE/E patients to secondary facilities for management. When there are gaps in providers’ skill sets, partners like Ending Eclampsia, UNICEF, and UNFPA help to bring them up to standard by providing supportive supervision and on-the-job trainings that span a …
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Uganda, Population Council
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Uganda, Population Council
Reproductive Health
As a partner on the Fistula Care Plus (FC+) project, the Population Council is conducting implementation research that tests solutions to treatment barriers. Formative research in Uganda found that a lack of knowledge among lower-level providers and women and families of how the condition occurs, where treatment is available, and the signs and symptoms of obstetric fistula, as well as transportation costs, affect women’s access to screening and repair. Baseline data reveal the necessity of a comprehensive intervention to address fistula treatment barriers in Uganda. Not only do primary healthcare providers lack adequate knowledge of fistula, referral, and counseling, but …
Assessing Community Midwives' Knowledge Of Pe/E Management In Sindh, Pakistan, Population Council
Assessing Community Midwives' Knowledge Of Pe/E Management In Sindh, Pakistan, Population Council
Reproductive Health
The Population Council conducted a landscape analysis in Pakistan to assess the knowledge and practices of trained community midwives in Tando Allahyar, a rural district of Sindh, India on the prevention, detection, and management of pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia, as well as gaps and challenges around the prevention and treatment at the provincial and district levels. This brief shares the findings of that assessment, and provides recommendations that would minimize the gaps in maternal health services. In order to implement the key recommendations, the Ending Eclampsia project suggests the establishment of a task force comprised of members of professional …
Enhancing Frontline Health Workers' Abilities To Improve Mnch Services In Bauchi State Through Task Shifting/Sharing, Sylvia Adebajo, Ekechi Okereke, Friday Joseph
Enhancing Frontline Health Workers' Abilities To Improve Mnch Services In Bauchi State Through Task Shifting/Sharing, Sylvia Adebajo, Ekechi Okereke, Friday Joseph
Reproductive Health
Frontline health workers (FLHWs), including nurses, midwives, community health extension workers, and community health officers, are healthcare providers with the greatest access to clients and patients, and provide initial care to persons in need of health services. In 2014, Nigeria’s 57th National Council on Health approved a task-shifting and sharing (TSS) policy for essential healthcare services as a promising strategy for improving access and efficiency in Nigeria’s health system. Subsequently, FLHWs in Nigeria have been trained for new roles and functions traditionally reserved for mid- or high-level cadres, to optimize available providers and their capacities. This brief reviews the strategy …
Life-Saving Medicines And Equipment In Facilities In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Life-Saving Medicines And Equipment In Facilities In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
This research brief is a part of a larger landscaping analysis by Population Council, with support from USAID and the MacArthur Foundation. In Bangladesh, in 12 upazilas in four districts, it assessed the capacity of primary health facilities to manage pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E). This brief shares findings from 134 facilities on required infrastructure for providing maternal and newborn health (MNH) services, human resources, facility readiness, and MNH commodities and supplies. Facility readiness is vital to providing quality services to antenatal care (ANC) patients, especially to women with PE/E. Without functioning equipment, ANC/PNC registers, essential medicines, electricity, and running water, …
Results From Systematic Literature Review On Pe/E In Nigeria, Amy Dempsey, Karen Kirk
Results From Systematic Literature Review On Pe/E In Nigeria, Amy Dempsey, Karen Kirk
Reproductive Health
Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, are consistently cited as a leading cause of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. A recent, nationwide cross-sectional survey found that PE/E contributes to 28.2 percent of national maternal deaths. The other main contributors to maternal mortality are hemorrhage and pregnancy-related infection or sepsis. To fully understand the key challenges, gaps, and interventions related to the prevention and treatment of PE/E, the Ending Eclampsia project conducted a systematic review of papers on PE/E in Nigeria published between 2000–15. The methods, results, and recommendations are discussed in this brief.
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Guatemala, Population Council
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Guatemala, Population Council
Reproductive Health
Each day around the world, 830 women die from pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes. The second most common cause (after postpartum hemorrhage) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E)—life-threatening, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and excess protein in urine—which can lead to seizures and other fatal complications. One in four preterm infants dies as a result of its mother’s PE/E. These deaths are preventable, yet essential medicines and tools to treat this disorder are often unavailable in low-resource settings. This factsheet provides a graphic overview of the data surrounding this issue with a specific focus on Guatemala.
Evaluating Community-Facility Linkage Models To Promote Mother-Infant Retention Along The Hiv Care Continuum, Project Soar
Evaluating Community-Facility Linkage Models To Promote Mother-Infant Retention Along The Hiv Care Continuum, Project Soar
HIV and AIDS
In Malawi, and other resourced-constrained, sub-Saharan African countries with a high HIV burden, several service delivery models have emerged to increase prevention of mother-to-child transmission care retention by strengthening connections between health facilities and their surrounding communities. Yet there has been little documentation of the unique characteristics of each model and their comparative impact on mother-infant pair (MIP) care retention and other health outcomes. This brief describes how Project SOAR is responding to these knowledge gaps by conducting research to identify components of community-based MIP support that are associated with maternal care retention and infant HIV-free survival. This research will …
Access To Reproductive Health And Hiv Services Among Young Mothers In Tanzania, Francis Obare, Annette Almeida, George Odwe, Jamilla Mwanga, Chi-Chi Undie, Maurice Hiza, Feddy Mwanga
Access To Reproductive Health And Hiv Services Among Young Mothers In Tanzania, Francis Obare, Annette Almeida, George Odwe, Jamilla Mwanga, Chi-Chi Undie, Maurice Hiza, Feddy Mwanga
Reproductive Health
This report presents findings from a Population Council study that examined the experiences of young mothers in Tanzania with accessing reproductive health and HIV services during pregnancy, delivery/pregnancy termination, and the postpartum period. The overall objective of the study was to generate evidence on access to reproductive health and HIV services among young mothers aged 12–19 years in Tanzania in order to inform programming and actions to better meet their needs. It specifically examined their experiences with accessing reproductive health (safe motherhood and contraception) and HIV (testing and counseling, PMTCT, antiretroviral therapy, and early infant diagnosis) services as well as …
Increasing Access To Reproductive Health Care Through Improved Service Delivery, Gul Rashida, Iram Kamran, Muhammad Khalil, Zeba Tasneem, Rehan M. Niazi, Mumraiz Khan, Tahira Parveen
Increasing Access To Reproductive Health Care Through Improved Service Delivery, Gul Rashida, Iram Kamran, Muhammad Khalil, Zeba Tasneem, Rehan M. Niazi, Mumraiz Khan, Tahira Parveen
Reproductive Health
The study documented in this report examines the provision and utilization of public and private sector maternal and child health services in Punjab, Pakistan with a focus on family planning (FP) services. It is aimed at enabling a better understanding of the specific demand and supply dynamics leading to low contraceptive prevalence despite unmet need, and the opportunities that must be seized to enhance access to quality family planning services. The report is part of a larger project being implemented by the Population Council with the assistance of the Department for International Development, UK entitled “Sustaining Focus on Provincial Governments …
Knowledge And Practices For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Care In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Knowledge And Practices For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Care In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
The Bangladesh Maternal Mortality Survey revealed that pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E) is the second most common direct cause of maternal deaths—between 1,000 and 1,200 maternal deaths (20 percent) each year. Early detection and treatment during antenatal care visits are instrumental in reducing deaths from PE/E. In Bangladesh, however, primary healthcare providers have limited knowledge of the condition, and in many cases are unaware of how to detect, manage, and treat it. This research brief presents the findings of a landscape analysis that was conducted to better understand service providers’ maternal health knowledge, attitudes, and practices, particularly around PE/E.
Married Young Women And Girls' Family Planning And Maternal Heath Preferences And Use In Ethiopia, Aparna Jain, Elizabeth Tobey, Hussein Ismail, Annabel Erulkar
Married Young Women And Girls' Family Planning And Maternal Heath Preferences And Use In Ethiopia, Aparna Jain, Elizabeth Tobey, Hussein Ismail, Annabel Erulkar
Reproductive Health
Married young women and girls are the primary users of youth-centered sexual and reproductive health services in Ethiopia and, given the health risks associated with early and closely-spaced pregnancies, represent an especially important population to reach with sexual and reproductive health services. This brief looks specifically at the needs and preferences for family planning and reproductive health services among married young women and girls, with recommendations for how to more effectively ensure that they have access to those services.
Policies For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Prevention And Management In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Policies For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Prevention And Management In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
Bangladesh experiences between 5,000 and 6,000 maternal deaths each year. Of those deaths, 20 percent are from pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E), the second most common direct cause of maternal mortality in the country. In Bangladesh, best practices to prevent PE/E using aspirin and calcium and managing it through task sharing and use of magnesium sulphate and anti-hypertensive drugs have not been optimally examined. To appreciate the enormity of the problem, the Population Council conducted a landscape analysis in 12 upazilas in four districts. The study was cross sectional, and data collection activities included in-depth interviews (IDIs) with policymakers, development partners, …
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Ebonyi, Population Council
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Ebonyi, Population Council
Reproductive Health
As a partner on the Fistula Care Plus (FC+) project, the Population Council is conducting implementation research that tests solutions to treatment barriers. Formative research in Nigeria’s Ebonyi State found that a lack of knowledge among lower-level providers and women and families of how the condition occurs, where treatment is available, and the signs and symptoms of obstetric fistula, as well as transportation costs, affect women’s access to screening and repair. Baseline data reveal the necessity of a comprehensive intervention to address fistula treatment barriers in Ebonyi. Not only do primary healthcare providers lack adequate knowledge of fistula, referral, and …
Results From Systematic Literature Review On Pe/E In Bangladesh, Karen Kirk, Amy Dempsey
Results From Systematic Literature Review On Pe/E In Bangladesh, Karen Kirk, Amy Dempsey
Reproductive Health
By 2015, at the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh had achieved a reduction in maternal death from 550 per 100,000 live births in 1990, to 170 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015. Despite this progress, there are still between 5,000 and 6,000 maternal deaths every year in Bangladesh, where 20 percent are the result of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E). This systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between January 2000 and July 2016 identified interventions adopted to manage PE/E throughout Bangladesh. Specifically, it looked at issues around quality of care, gaps in the evidence, and barriers to …
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Belize, Population Council
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Belize, Population Council
Reproductive Health
Each day around the world, 830 women die from pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes. The second most common cause (after postpartum hemorrhage) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E)—life-threatening, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and excess protein in urine—which can lead to seizures and other fatal complications. One in four preterm infants dies as a result of its mother’s PE/E. These deaths are preventable, yet essential medicines and tools to treat this disorder are often unavailable in low-resource settings. This factsheet provides a graphic overview of the data surrounding this issue with a specific focus on Belize.
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Nepal, Population Council
Risk Factors For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Nepal, Population Council
Reproductive Health
Each day around the world, 830 women die from pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes. The second most common cause (after postpartum hemorrhage) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E)—life-threatening, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and excess protein in urine—which can lead to seizures and other fatal complications. One in four preterm infants dies as a result of its mother’s PE/E. These deaths are preventable, yet essential medicines and tools to treat this disorder are often unavailable in low-resource settings. This factsheet provides a graphic overview of the data surrounding this issue with a specific focus on Nepal.