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Summary Report Of The Measuring And Monitoring Quality Of Care Meeting, Population Council

Reproductive Health

At the request of the Packard Foundation, the Population Council organized a meeting at its office in Washington, DC, on December 16, 2014, to establish links with key stakeholders interested in quality of care, and to refocus attention on challenges in measuring and monitoring diverse dimensions of quality of care. Thirty experts from donor, service, and research organizations participated. This summary report, based on the deliberations at the meeting, is intended as a preamble to the formation of a community of practice for advancing quality of care agenda globally. The key message is that improved quality in service delivery is …

Evaluation De La Mise En Oeuvre Et Des Réalisations De L’Approche 3d Au Sein Du Plan D’Action National De Planification Familiale (Panpf) Au Sénégal—Partie 2: Rapport De Synthese, Fatou Mbow, Leslie Dubent, Nafissatou Diop, Fatou Ndiaye Turpin, Bocar Mamadou Daff, Babacar Mane

Reproductive Health

Le Plan d’Action National de Planification Familiale 2012–15 (PANPF 2012–15) du Sénégal est basé sur l’Approche 3D (Démocratisation, Démédicalisation, Décentralisation). Au moment où le PANPF 2012–15 arrivait à terme, et qu’un nouveau plan était élaboré, le Population Council a mené une étude pour documenter la mise en œuvre et les réalisations de l’Approche 3D en relation avec le PANPF. Cette étude documente l’Approche 3D en relation avec le PANPF à travers une revue documentaire et une recherche qualitative. Elle décrit les leçons apprises de sa mise en œuvre et partage les bonnes pratiques que d’autres pays pourraient adopter, en particulier …

Evaluation De La Mise En Oeuvre Et Des Réalisations De L’Approche 3d Au Sein Du Plan D’Action National De Planification Familiale (Panpf) Au Sénégal—Partie 1: Revue Documentaire, Leslie Dubent, Fatou Mbow, Nafissatou Diop, Fatou Ndiaye Turpin, Bocar Mamadou Daff, Babacar Mane

Reproductive Health

Le Plan d’Action National de Planification Familiale 2012–15 (PANPF 2012–15) du Sénégal est basé sur l’Approche 3D (Démocratisation, Démédicalisation, Décentralisation). Au moment où le PANPF 2012–15 arrivait à terme, et qu’un nouveau plan était élaboré, le Population Council a mené une étude pour documenter la mise en œuvre et les réalisations de l’Approche 3D en relation avec le PANPF. Cette étude documente l’Approche 3D en relation avec le PANPF à travers une revue documentaire et une recherche qualitative. Elle décrit les leçons apprises de sa mise en œuvre et partage les bonnes pratiques que d’autres pays pourraient adopter, en particulier …

Expanding Access To Rights-Based Family Planning: Activity Brief, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

The human rights dimensions of family planning programs have been recognized for nearly half a century and affirmed in numerous declarations, conventions, and treaties endorsed by governments and the international community. While discourse about respecting, protecting, and fulfilling these rights is growing, a gap persists between human rights rhetoric and integrating rights in family planning policy, programs, and practice. Governments and programs struggle with defining and operationalizing a rights-based approach to family planning. Overall, there is scant evidence on: how to implement rights-based family planning (RBFP) programming, how to measure rights-based programming and outcomes, and the effect on family planning/reproductive …

Reducing Maternal And Child Mortality In Sindh: The Untapped Potential Of Family Planning, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq, Seemin Ashfaq

Reproductive Health

Family planning (FP) is recognized as a necessary tool for faster fertility decline leading to accelerated economic development. However, its unique and potent role in preserving mother and child health is less well understood. This Population Council/Evidence Project policy brief explains why FP must be prioritized in Sindh, Pakistan’s health strategy as a key intervention for reducing maternal, infant, and under-five mortality in the province. Evidence shows that FP is one of the most powerful tools at the government’s disposal for a rapid reduction in maternal, infant, and child mortality. FP’s wider health benefits include reduced anemia among women; lower …

Reducing Maternal And Child Mortality In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The Untapped Potential Of Family Planning, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq, Seemin Ashfaq

Reproductive Health

Family Planning (FP) is recognized as a necessary tool for faster fertility decline leading to accelerated economic development. However, its unique and potent role in preserving mother and child health is less well understood. This Population Council/Evidence Project policy brief explains why family planning must be prioritized in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan’s health strategy as a key intervention for reducing maternal, infant, and under-five mortality in the province. By fulfilling the existing unmet need for birth spacing and limiting, it is possible to prevent 37 percent of maternal deaths and 57 percent of infant deaths. FP’s wider health benefits include reduced …

Reducing Maternal And Child Mortality In Balochistan: The Untapped Potential Of Family Planning, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq, Seemin Ashfaq

Reproductive Health

Family planning (FP) is recognized as a necessary tool for faster fertility decline leading to accelerated economic development. However, its unique and potent role in preserving mother and child health is less well understood. This brief explains why FP must be prioritized in Balochistan, Pakistan’s health strategy as a key intervention for reducing maternal, infant, and under-five mortality in the province. By fulfilling the existing unmet need for birth spacing and limiting, it is possible to prevent 41 percent of maternal deaths, 35 percent of infant deaths, and 74 percent of young child deaths. FP’s wider health benefits include reduced …

Prospects For Economic Growth In Sindh Under Alternative Demographic Scenarios: The Case For A Rapid Fertility Decline, David E. Bloom, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq

Reproductive Health

Sindh is currently undergoing a demographic transition from high fertility and high mortality to lower fertility and mortality. The resulting bulge in its working-age population means the province is poised to reap a “demographic dividend.” By 2050, Sindh’s per capita income will be 191 percent higher than today’s levels if there is no decline in fertility, but 426 percent higher if fertility declines rapidly. The scale and effectiveness of efforts to reduce fertility levels in Sindh will determine whether per capita income in the province grows by 328 percent or 426 percent by 2050. The possible demographic dividend of a …

Prospects For Economic Growth In Punjab Under Alternative Demographic Scenarios: The Case For A Rapid Fertility Decline, David E. Bloom, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq

Reproductive Health

Punjab is currently undergoing a demographic transition from a situation of high fertility and high mortality to one of lower fertility and mortality. The resulting bulge in its working-age population means the province is poised to reap a “demographic dividend.” By 2050, Punjab’s per capita income will be 210 percent higher than today’s levels if there is no decline in fertility, but 431 percent higher if fertility declines rapidly. The scale and effectiveness of efforts to reduce fertility levels in Punjab will determine whether per capita income in the province grows by 333 percent or by 431 percent by 2050. …

Prospects For Economic Growth In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under Alternative Demographic Scenarios: The Case For A Rapid Fertility Decline, David E. Bloom, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq

Reproductive Health

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is currently undergoing a demographic transition from a situation of high fertility and high mortality to one of lower fertility and mortality. The resulting bulge in its working-age population means the province is poised to reap a “demographic dividend.” By 2050, KP’s per capita income will be 167 percent higher than today’s levels if there is no decline in fertility, but 412 percent higher if fertility declines rapidly. The scale and effectiveness of efforts to reduce fertility levels in KP will determine whether per capita income in the province grows by 316 percent or by 412 percent …

Prospects For Economic Growth In Balochistan Under Alternative Demographic Scenarios: The Case For A Rapid Fertility Decline, David E. Bloom, Zeba Sathar, Maqsood Sadiq

Reproductive Health

Balochistan is currently undergoing a demographic transition from a situation of high fertility and high mortality to one of lower fertility and mortality. The resulting bulge in its working-age population means the province is poised to reap a “demographic dividend.” By 2050, Balochistan’s per capita income will be 165 percent higher than today’s levels if there is no decline in fertility, but 388 percent higher if fertility declines rapidly. The scale and effectiveness of efforts to reduce fertility levels in Balochistan will determine whether per capita income in the province grows by 295 percent or by 388 percent by 2050. …

Family Planning Through The Lens Of Men: Readiness, Preferences, And Challenges, Iram Kamran, Zeba Tasneem, Tahira Parveen, Rehan M. Niazi

Reproductive Health

Family planning (FP) is urgently needed in Pakistan but progress remains slow. In its 2002 Population Policy, the country pledged to reduce its total fertility rate to 2.2 by 2020; at the London Summit in 2012, it committed to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) to 55 percent by the same year. Despite important achievements, Pakistan’s current CPR is only 35 percent, the total fertility rate is 3.8, and 20 percent of married couples of reproductive age express unmet need for FP. FP programming has largely been directed at women, and husbands have been regarded, at best, as interested bystanders. …

Expanding The Role Of Research Evidence In Family Planning Policy, Program, And Practice Decisionmaking, Karen Hardee, Kelsey Wright

Reproductive Health

This working paper focuses on the emerging knowledge translation literature to provide lessons learned on ways to increase the role that evidence plays in decision-making for family planning and reproductive health policies, programs, and practices. It is part of a larger synthesis of the literature that explores what “evidence” means, what types of evidence policymakers, program managers, and implementers seek when facing implementation decisions, and how evidence relates to other factors that influence decision-making. This paper and the larger synthesis are based on a literature search whose objective was to locate references on evidence-based policy in health or social science, …

Social Accountability For Family Planning: A Case Study Of The Healthy Action Project In Uganda, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

In July 2014, the Evidence Project gathered 26 experts for a two-day meeting on Strengthening the Evidence Base on Social Accountability for Improving Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs. Participants included social accountability experts from diverse fields (governance, maternal health, family planning) as well as researchers, implementers, and activists. The meeting was one of the first public discussions that addressed social accountability in the context of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH). Meeting participants agreed on the need for case studies of FP/RH initiatives to identify “good practices” in order to advance the application of social accountability to the FP/RH …

Understanding Youth Sexual And Reproductive Health-Seeking Behaviors In Ethiopia: Implications For Youth-Friendly Service Programming, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

In Ethiopia, significant attention has been given to improving youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including the establishment of youth-friendly services (YFS). Yet high rates of child marriage, unmet need for family planning, and adolescent childbearing persist, particularly in rural areas where over 84 percent of the population lives. Reaching rural youth with timely SRH information and services that are relevant to their varying ages and life stages remains a challenge. The Evidence Project is examining the coverage and reach of public and NGO-supported youth SRH services in several rural regions of Ethiopia. As this activity brief notes, the …

Utilization Of National Health Insurance For Family Planning And Reproductive Health Services By The Urban Poor In Uttar Pradesh, India, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

In 2008, the Government of India launched the National Health Insurance program, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), to enable families living below the poverty line in urban and rural areas to access a range of private health services. Enrolled families can access packages of services from RSBY-participating private hospitals, including family planning (FP) and other reproductive health (RH) services. Despite the availability of insurance coverage, poor families’ utilization of RSBY for FP/RH services is believed to be negligible. The Evidence Project is conducting a study in three cities in Uttar Pradesh to better understand the factors affecting utilization of RSBY …

The Raise Health Initiative For Workers, Companies, And Communities, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

RAISE Health is an initiative to improve the health of factory and farm workers (women and men) in developing countries through changes in global and corporate policies and workplace practices. Effective management of workplace health is good for companies and workers alike, resulting in better health and morale, better labor-management relations, empowerment of women, and better use of company health investments. Worker health is typically one of the most neglected areas in business operations. As this activity brief notes, RAISE Health is a major activity of the USAID-funded Evidence Project. The goal of the initiative is to utilize the existing …

Standard Days Method Of Contraception: Evidence On Use, Implementation, And Scale Up, Kelsey Wright, Hiba Iqteit, Karen Hardee

Reproductive Health

In 2002, an article in Contraception reported on a trial for a new method of contraception, the Standard Days Method (SDM). SDM is a fertility awareness-based family planning (FP) method that identifies the eighth through nineteenth days of a woman’s menstrual cycle as the fertile window. SDM users abstain or use barrier methods during their fertile periods to prevent pregnancy. The trial established a first-year method failure rate of 5 per 100 woman years with correct use, and 12 per 100 women for typical use. Over the decade since the publication of the original efficacy trial, the Georgetown University Institute …

Rights-Based Family Planning: 10 Resources To Guide Programming, Jan Kumar, Karen Hardee

Reproductive Health

The FP2020 goal of providing FP services to 120 million more women and girls that emerged from the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning refocused attention on the need to ensure that FP programs respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. The current challenge is how to operationalize human rights in existing FP programs and new projects. This resource guide reviews ten key resources available to guide programming—FP2020: Rights and Empowerment Principles for Family Planning; Ensuring Human Rights in the Provision of Contraceptive Information and Services, Ensuring Human Rights Within Contraceptive Service Delivery: Implementation Guide; Voluntary Family Planning Programs that Respect, …

Anneau Vaginal À La Progesterone: Appel A L'Action Pour Combler Les Ecarts Importants Dans La Planification Familiale Postnatal, Population Council

Reproductive Health

L’anneau vaginal à la progestérone (AVP) est une méthode efficace et sûre de contraception pour les femmes qui allaitent. C’est une médecine prioritaire de la liste des produits médicaux essentiels de l’OMS et elle est inclue parmi les critères médicaux éligibles pour les personnels de la planification familiale. Développé par le Population Council, l’AVP est un anneau intra-vaginal qui donne une option contraceptive aux femmes qui allaitent au moins quatre fois par jour dès la quatrième semaine après l’accouchement. L’AVP apporte une nouvelle option pour réduire les besoins non-satisfaits des nouvelles mères, permet aux femmes d’espacer leurs grossesses sans problème, …

Progesterone Vaginal Ring: A Call-To-Action To Fill Critical Gaps In Post-Partum Family Planning, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) is a safe and effective method of contraception for lactating women. It is a priority medicine on the WHO’s Essential Medicines List and is included in the Medical Eligibility Criteria for family planning providers. Developed by the Population Council, the PVR is an intravaginal ring that provides women who breastfeed at least four times a day with a contraceptive option as early as four weeks after giving birth. The PVR provides a new option to reduce unmet need among new mothers, allow women to safely space their pregnancies, and improve the health of women and …

Willingness To Pay For Contraceptive Vaginal Rings In Senegal, Babacar Mane, Fatou Mbow, Deepa Rajamani, Nafissatou Diop, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

Contraceptive vaginal rings are an innovative category of products that have not been introduced into any sub-Saharan African country. As a result, there is little experience to guide the introductory pricing for the PVR and the one-year NES/EE CVR when it becomes available. The evidence generated by this consumer willingness to pay, and provider/procurer study has shed light on critical aspects of PVR introduction in Senegal. In general, the results generated here complement and reinforce findings from an acceptability study of the PVR and stakeholder discussions that have been occurring over the past three years. Results confirm that contraceptive vaginal …

L’Anneau Vaginal À Progestérone: Résultats De L’Étude D’Acceptabilité Au Sénégal, Babacar Mane, Papa Chimere Diaw, Nafissatou Diop, Fatou Mbow, Heather Clark, Saumya Ramarao, Deepa Rajamani

Reproductive Health

Le Gouvernement du Sénégal s’est engagé dans une politique volontariste de repositionnement de la planification familiale à travers l’adoption d’un Plan d’Action National de Planification Familiale. Pour mieux adresser les besoins de contraception des femmes et réduire les taux d’abandon, le Population Council a initié le développement d’une gamme d’anneaux vaginaux; le premier produit développé était l’anneau vaginal à progestérone ou AVP, conçu pour les femmes qui allaitent en vue de prolonger la période d’aménorrhée lactationnelle et ainsi promouvoir l’espacement des naissances. Avec l’appui de la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates, le Population Council a entrepris des activités de pré-introduction …

Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Results Of An Acceptability Study In Nigeria, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Afolabi Kayode, Godwin Unumeri, Ayodeji Oginni, Adekunle Adeyemi, Deepa Rajamani, Heather Clark, Naomi Rijo, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) is used to extend the contraceptive effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea among breastfeeding women. The PVR was first registered in Chile and Peru in 1998 for use by postpartum women and has since been expanded to other Latin American countries. Previous studies have shown that contraceptive vaginal rings are safe, effective, and well accepted in varied cultural settings. However, the extent to which the ring is acceptable in the sub-Saharan African context is unknown. This study examined the acceptability of the PVR in Nigeria as part of a larger project that was also conducted in Kenya …

Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Results Of An Acceptability Study In Kenya, Francis Obare, Wilson Liambila, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Shiphrah Kuria, Heather Clark, Deepa Rajamani, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) is used to extend the contraceptive effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea among breastfeeding women. Previous studies have shown that contraceptive vaginal rings are safe, effective, and well accepted in varied cultural settings. However, the extent to which the ring is acceptable in the sub-Saharan African context is unknown. This study examined the acceptability of the PVR in Kenya as part of a larger project that was also conducted in Nigeria and Senegal. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the factors influencing the acceptability of the method among clients, their spouses, providers, community members, …

Anneau Vaginal À Progestérone: Aussi Sûr Pour Maman Que Pour Bébé, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Cette fiche d'information fournit des informations de base sur l'innocuité et l'efficacité de l'anneau contraceptif vaginal à la progestérone (AVP). Son effet contraceptif fonctionne en renforçant les effets inhibiteurs de l'allaitement maternel sur l'ovulation, et en étendant l'aménorrhée post-partum. L'AVP est un contraceptif sûr et efficace pour les mamans, leurs bébés et leurs partenaires sexuels. Cette méthode étend largement le gamme de contraceptifs à la disposition des femmes qui allaitent.

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This fact sheet provides basic information on the safety and effectiveness of the progesterone vaginal contraceptive ring. It works as a contraceptive by reinforcing the inhibitory effect of breastfeeding …

Physicians' Perceptions Of Cultural Competence In Health Care, Andrea L. Abercrombie

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Health care disparities continue to impact racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. These disparities may become even more predominant as the population of immigrants and racial and ethnic minorities increases in the country. Health care policymakers, administrators, accreditation bodies, and academia support the practice of cultural competence as a strategy to reduce both health and health care disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations. Yet, although cultural competence strategies have been developed and supported, they are often not implemented by physicians. Researchers need to explore physicians' perspectives of cultural competence in order to increase physician engagement and inform …

Being Ready To Treat Ebola Virus Disease Patients, David Brett-Major, Shevin T. Jacob, Frederique A. Jacquerioz, George F. Risi, William A. Fischer, Yasuyuki Kato, Catherine F. Houlihan, Ian Crozier, Henry Kyobe Bosa, James V. Lawler, Takuya Adachi, Sara K. Hurley, Louise E. Berry, John C. Carlson, Thomas C. Button, Susan L. Mclellan, Barbara J. Shea, Gary G. Kuniyoshi, Mauricio Ferri, Srinivas G. Murthy, Nicola Petrosillo, Francois Lamontagne, David T. Porembka, John S. Schieffelin, Lewis Rubinson, Tim O'Dempsey, Suzanne M. Donovan, Daniel G. Bausch, Robert A. Fowler, Thomas E. Fletcher

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

As the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa continues, clinical preparedness is needed in countries at risk for EVD (e.g., United States) and more fully equipped and supported clinical teams in those countries with epidemic spread of EVD in Africa. Clinical staff must approach the patient with a very deliberate focus on providing effective care while assuring personal safety. To do this, both individual health care providers and health systems must improve EVD care. Although formal guidance toward these goals exists from the World Health Organization, Medecin Sans Frontières, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and …

Prevalence Of Schistosoma Haematobium Infection Among School-Age Children In Afar Area, Northeastern Ethiopia, Abraham Degarege, Zeleke Mekonnen, Bruno Levecke, Mengistu Legesse, Yohannes Negash, Jozef Vercruysse, Berhanu Erko

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

In this study, the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection was determined among school-age children living in the Middle and Lower Awash Valley, Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. Between February and May 2014, urine samples were collected from 885 school-age children (5-16 years of age) from the Middle (n = 632; 4 villages) and Lower (n = 253; 3 villages) Awash Valley. All samples were processed using urine filtration to detect and quantify S. haematobium eggs. In addition, a subset of the urine samples was tested for hematuria using a urine dipstick (n = 556). The overall prevalence was …

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections And Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren In Durbete Town, Northwestern Ethiopia, Tilahun Alelign, Abraham Degarege, Berhanu Erko

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Identifying determinants of soil transmitted helminth infection is vital to design control strategy for the disease. This study assessed the prevalence of STH infections and associated factors among schoolchildren in Durbete town, northwestern Ethiopia. Data about the sociodemographic and socioeconomic status of the children were collected using a questionnaire and stool samples were diagnosed using thick Kato-Katz smear. STH infection was more common among school-age children in Durbete town. Hookworm was the most frequent helminth species detected. The prevalence of STH infection was more in children who did not practice wearing shoes and washing hands before eating and in those …