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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health
Assessing The Effect Of A Primary Health Care Intervention For Improving Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Knowledge And Practice In Bangladesh, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Shongkour Roy, Kanij Sultana, Charlotte E. Warren
Assessing The Effect Of A Primary Health Care Intervention For Improving Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Knowledge And Practice In Bangladesh, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Shongkour Roy, Kanij Sultana, Charlotte E. Warren
Reproductive Health
In resource-poor countries such as Bangladesh, proven life-saving commodities for pregnant women have not been optimally examined, such as magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) to manage severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, use of anti-hypertensives to manage high blood pressure during pregnancy, aspirin prophylaxis for pregnant women at high risk of PE/E, as well as task shifting to lower health-worker cadres, and community involvement. There has been no systematic review of research and programming on PE/E prevention, early detection, and treatment in Bangladesh. With support from USAID, the Ending Eclampsia project has been expanding access to proven, underutilized interventions and commodities for PE/E prevention, early detection, …
Practice-Based Learning: Observations On One-Stop Centers In Refugee Settings, Chi-Chi Undie, Josephine Ngebeh, Jane Harriet Namwebya, Joanina Karugaba
Practice-Based Learning: Observations On One-Stop Centers In Refugee Settings, Chi-Chi Undie, Josephine Ngebeh, Jane Harriet Namwebya, Joanina Karugaba
Reproductive Health
One-Stop Centers’ (OSCs) have grown in popularity for responding to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the East, Horn, and Great Lakes regions of Africa. OSCs attempt to provide an integrated, multisectoral response to SGBV survivors’ needs in one location. In resource-constrained settings, the most common services offered at OSCs include health care, psycho-social support, police and judicial services, as well as social support. Studies demonstrate that health-facility-based OSCs that are owned and run by health-facility staff are more effective than NGO-run OSCs in achieving the broadest range of desired health and legal outcomes for SGBV survivors. In collaboration with …
Practice-Based Learning: Integrating Sgbv Screening Into Health Facilities In Refugee Contexts, Chi-Chi Undie, Josephine Ngebeh, Joanina Karugaba, Harriet Birungi, Michael Mbizvo
Practice-Based Learning: Integrating Sgbv Screening Into Health Facilities In Refugee Contexts, Chi-Chi Undie, Josephine Ngebeh, Joanina Karugaba, Harriet Birungi, Michael Mbizvo
Reproductive Health
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) “screening” refers to the standardized assessment of clients for SGBV incidents, regardless of reasons for presenting at a health facility. This practice has been shown to be feasible and effective in various countries and contexts in the East and Southern African region, resulting in proactive identification of female survivors, and their successful referrals for comprehensive SGBV care. In the last decade, health facilities in the region have been increasingly eager to incorporate such screening within the normal protocols of their health-care providers. In collaboration with the Population Council-led Africa Regional SGBV Network, the UNHCR East, …
Engaging Community Women’S Groups To Improve Maternal Health Care Delivery In Cross River: Implementation Research Report, Pooja Sripad, Emmanuel Nwala, Tracy Mcclair, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Charlotte E. Warren
Engaging Community Women’S Groups To Improve Maternal Health Care Delivery In Cross River: Implementation Research Report, Pooja Sripad, Emmanuel Nwala, Tracy Mcclair, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Charlotte E. Warren
Reproductive Health
Ending Eclampsia’s main objective is to improve access to underutilized interventions and commodities by training community health extension workers in preventing, detecting (screening), and managing pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. While the broader project emphasizes primary health care interventions, this implementation research (IR) study focused on a community intervention in one state, in areas where the facility interventions were active. This final research report describes IR testing the feasibility and utility of employing women’s groups as community platforms to increase women’s access to quality antenatal service utilization, using pre-eclampsia screening as the entry point. The study was conducted in 48 communities in …
Strengthening Capacity In Hiv Operations Research: Reflections On A Project Soar Workshop In Johannesburg, South Africa, Project Soar
Strengthening Capacity In Hiv Operations Research: Reflections On A Project Soar Workshop In Johannesburg, South Africa, Project Soar
HIV and AIDS
Capacity strengthening (CS) to support rigorous scientific research is a globally recognized need and central to Project SOAR. Over a four-day period, SOAR conducted a CS workshop to strengthen individual and institutional capacity in HIV operations research, with a particular emphasis on the research utilization process. This brief summarizes the CS activities conducted, insights from the workshop’s organization, and participants’ views of the workshop.
Project Yes! Youth Engaging For Success: A Peer Mentoring Program To Transition Youth To Hiv Self-Management In Zambia, Project Soar
Project Yes! Youth Engaging For Success: A Peer Mentoring Program To Transition Youth To Hiv Self-Management In Zambia, Project Soar
HIV and AIDS
This activity brief describes an operational study that responds to challenges and evidence gaps in Zambia about how to support adolescents and young adults living with HIV (YLHIV) in having a greater and more effective role in the management of their own care. The study aimed to refine and test a peer-mentoring strategy in Zambia to strengthen the capacity of health systems and families to support youth as they transition to, and engage in, self-management and adult HIV care and treatment. This approach builds on previous Ministry of Health–approved research at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital with YLHIV and their families. …
Family Planning Programs For The 21st Century: Rationale And Design, John Bongaarts, John C. Cleland, John Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand, Monica Das Gupta
Family Planning Programs For The 21st Century: Rationale And Design, John Bongaarts, John C. Cleland, John Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand, Monica Das Gupta
Reproductive Health
Family planning improves health, reduces poverty, and empowers women. Yet, today, more than 200 million women in the developing world want to avoid pregnancy but are not using a modern method of contraception. They face many obstacles, including lack of access to information and health-care services, opposition from their husbands and communities, misperceptions about side effects, and cost. Family planning programs are among the most successful development interventions of the past 50 years. They are unique in their range of potential benefits, encompassing economic development, maternal and child health, educational advances, and women’s empowerment. Research shows that with high-quality voluntary …
Policy Brief: Designing And Implementing High-Quality Voluntary Family Planning Programs, Population Council
Policy Brief: Designing And Implementing High-Quality Voluntary Family Planning Programs, Population Council
Reproductive Health
Voluntary high-quality family planning programs reduce poverty and improve women’s and children’s health by speeding fertility declines. They are one of the most cost-effective health and development investments available to governments. But, today, more than 200 million women worldwide lack access to modern contraception. If this unmet need for family planning could be met, 54 million unintended pregnancies, 26 million abortions, more than 79,000 maternal deaths, and 1.1 million infant deaths could be prevented each year. This policy brief states that global interest in family planning is growing as the benefits of family planning programs are becoming increasingly evident. However, …
Résumé Exécutif—Les Programmes De Planification Familiale Du Xxie Siècle: Fondement Et Conception, John Bongaarts, John C. Cleland, John Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand, Monica Das Gupta
Résumé Exécutif—Les Programmes De Planification Familiale Du Xxie Siècle: Fondement Et Conception, John Bongaarts, John C. Cleland, John Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand, Monica Das Gupta
Reproductive Health
Ce document contient le résumé exécutif de «Les programmes de planification familiale pour le XXIe siècle: Fondement et conception». La première moitié de l'ouvrage explique pourquoi un financement et un soutien accrus en faveur des programmes de planification familiale volontaire sont nécessaires. La seconde moitié explique comment les programmes renforcés de planification familiale volontaire peuvent être structurés de manière à fonctionner avec plus d’efficacité. La planification familiale est l'une des interventions les plus réussies de développement de ces 50 dernières années. Elle est unique en termes d’avantages potentiels, et englobe le développement économique, la santé maternelle et infantile, …
Executive Summary—Family Planning Programs For The 21st Century: Rationale And Design, John Bongaarts, John C. Cleland, John Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand, Monica Das Gupta
Executive Summary—Family Planning Programs For The 21st Century: Rationale And Design, John Bongaarts, John C. Cleland, John Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand, Monica Das Gupta
Reproductive Health
This document contains the executive summary of “Family Planning Programs for the 21st Century: Rationale and Design.” The first half of the book makes the case for why increased funding and support for voluntary family planning programs are needed. The second half explains how reinvigorated voluntary family planning programs can be structured to operate more effectively. Family planning is one of the most successful development interventions of the past 50 years. It is unique in its range of potential benefits, encompassing economic development, maternal and child health, educational advances, and women’s empowerment. Research shows that with high-quality voluntary …
Policy Brief: Designing And Implementing High-Quality Voluntary Family Planning Programs [Arabic], Population Council
Policy Brief: Designing And Implementing High-Quality Voluntary Family Planning Programs [Arabic], Population Council
Reproductive Health
Voluntary high-quality family planning programs reduce poverty and improve women’s and children’s health by speeding fertility declines. They are one of the most cost-effective health and development investments available to governments. But, today, more than 200 million women worldwide lack access to modern contraception. If this unmet need for family planning could be met, 54 million unintended pregnancies, 26 million abortions, more than 79,000 maternal deaths, and 1.1 million infant deaths could be prevented each year. This policy brief states that global interest in family planning is growing as the benefits of family planning programs are becoming increasingly evident. However, …
Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Facility Assessment Report, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Amar Krishna Baidya, M. Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Nargis Sultana
Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Facility Assessment Report, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Amar Krishna Baidya, M. Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Nargis Sultana
Reproductive Health
In Bangladesh, first-level fixed-facility services—provided at the union level through Health and Family Welfare Centers (HFWCs)—are designed to improve maternal and child health by making services available in rural areas. However, most HFWCs do not have the capacity to provide normal delivery services. HFWCs could help women receive free normal delivery services within a convenient distance from their home, if they were strengthened with necessary human resources, infrastructure, and equipment. The Population Council, with financial assistance from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), carried out a policy and research systems study to strengthen union HFWC’s provision of normal delivery …
Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Workshop Report, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan
Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Workshop Report, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan
Reproductive Health
In Bangladesh, a network of government health facilities providing maternal and child health services has been established. In rural areas, first-level fixed-facility service is provided at the union level through Health and Family Welfare Centers (HFWCs). These facilities are designed to improve maternal and child health by making services available to the people in rural areas, however a full range of reproductive health services for women is not available in those facilities. At present, no evidence exists to support whether or not HFWCs can safely and cost-effectively provide normal deliveries. There is a need for a policy research initiative that …
Ten Years Of The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project: What Has Happened?, Humphres Evelia, Monica Wanjiru, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi
Ten Years Of The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project: What Has Happened?, Humphres Evelia, Monica Wanjiru, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi
Reproductive Health
This evaluation by the Population Council’s APHIA II Operations Research Project sought to find out whether the adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and HIV/AIDS activities in Kenya had been sustained over a 10-year period when the project was replicated and scaled up to cover seven provinces in the country. The evaluation had three main objectives: 1) to determine the extent to which activities of the Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Program (KARHP) have continued at national, provincial, and district levels; 2) to determine whether desired sexual and reproductive health outcomes (knowledge, behavior, and practices) have been sustained among in- and …
Strengthening The Delivery Of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services At The Community Level In Kenya, Population Council
Strengthening The Delivery Of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services At The Community Level In Kenya, Population Council
Reproductive Health
The Population Council APHIA II Operations Research Project collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to improve the quality of services offered by community-based midwives in two districts in Western Kenya, to prepare them to offer more comprehensive maternal services through antenatal, obstetric, postpartum, and newborn care. The study found that community midwives can tremendously increase clients’ access to essential maternal health services and other reproductive health services. Therefore Ministry of Health and its partners should scale up community midwives’ activities to enable more women access these services. Furthermore, information campaigns are needed to promote the range of …
Identifying Opportunities And Challenges To Strengthen Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Findings From Policy Advocacy Activities, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan
Identifying Opportunities And Challenges To Strengthen Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Findings From Policy Advocacy Activities, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan
Reproductive Health
The Population Council/Bangladesh, with assistance from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), organized a series of advocacy meetings and workshops that were carried out as part of a policy and systems research study titled “Strengthening Union Level Facility for Providing Normal Delivery and Newborn Care Services.” The Council held one consultative meeting, one stakeholders’ meeting, two experience-sharing workshops in Jamalpur and Thakurgaon, two local-level advocacy workshops in Kurigram and Habiganj, and two roundtable dialogues with journalists from Bengali and English newspapers. This document includes five reports: Strengthening HFWCs (Health and Family Welfare Centers) for Normal Delivery and Newborn Care …
Innovative Financing Through Pay-For-Performance For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care In Bangladesh: Transforming Research Into Action, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena
Innovative Financing Through Pay-For-Performance For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care In Bangladesh: Transforming Research Into Action, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena
Reproductive Health
To improve access to, and use of, facility-based obstetric and newborn care services in rural areas, the Government of Bangladesh is implementing two innovative performance-based financing programs: demand-side financing (DSF) and pay-for-performance (P4P). Both programs have contributed to the increase in institutional deliveries, yet not enough women receive the recommended care during pregnancy and delivery. DSF and P4P are implemented in parallel and have their own merits and limitations. As described in this brief, a two-day workshop was organized in 2011 in Dhaka to identify the lessons learned and limitations of P4P and DSF models and scopes for cross-learning. Both …
Hiv Integrated Biological And Behavioural Surveillance Survey (Ibbss) 2010, Federal Ministry Of Health
Hiv Integrated Biological And Behavioural Surveillance Survey (Ibbss) 2010, Federal Ministry Of Health
HIV and AIDS
This report by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health highlights the findings of an integrated biological and behavioral surveillance survey (IBBSS) in Nigeria among groups whose behaviors or occupations often place them at higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The main objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge and beliefs of high-risk groups about STI and HIV, determine the prevalence of HIV infection among these groups, and obtain data that will permit identification of trends over time. Since the 2007 IBBSS survey report, a considerable number of interventions have commenced among the study groups.
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
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
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
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 …
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
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 …
Executive Summary: A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson
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 …
Workshop Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach And Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen
Workshop Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach And Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen
Reproductive Health
In Bangladesh, improving skilled birth attendance at delivery and access to facility-based obstetric and newborn care are vital to improving maternal and neonatal health. The health system in Bangladesh faces a critical challenge on the supply side: unavailability of quality services at public health facilities, due to inadequately motivated providers, vacant positions, and provider absenteeism. As well, salaries of public-sector providers do not depend on quality of work or quantity of services provided. Paying an incentive to facilities based on a performance benchmark has the potential of increasing the quantity and quality of maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) care. …
Improving The Health Care Response To Gender-Based Violence: Phase Ii, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Mai Quoc Tung
Improving The Health Care Response To Gender-Based Violence: Phase Ii, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Mai Quoc Tung
Reproductive Health
In 2009, the Population Council/Vietnam in collaboration with the Hanoi Health Service carried out an evaluation survey among Duc Giang Hospital staff to assess the extent to which awareness and perceptions of gender-based violence (GBV) had changed since the project commenced in 2005. The survey also assessed the extent to which the response of the hospital and Women’s Center for Counseling and Health had been strengthened, and made recommendations on changes to improve the situation. Overall, this project has been effective in raising awareness and willingness to integrate GBV screening into health services. The project conducted its training program at …
Financial Sustainability Of Reproductive Health Services—Understanding Costs: An Essential Skill In Reproductive Health Programs, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Financial Sustainability Of Reproductive Health Services—Understanding Costs: An Essential Skill In Reproductive Health Programs, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
Reproductive health (RH) services remain a low priority for most developing country health programs and face continuing reductions in donor funding and competition from other priorities, such as HIV and malaria. Thus, it is important to understand the costs of interventions and to compare them with existing or alternative service-delivery strategies. FRONTIERS studies provide important lessons about measuring costs and effectiveness of public and nongovernmental programs, planning for costing during scale-up, and improving understanding of issues influencing financial sustainability. This is one of eight Legacy Papers synthesizing major lessons learned in research conducted under the FRONTIERS in Reproductive Health Program. …
Using Systematic Screening To Integrate Health Services In India And Senegal: Pilot Study Versus Scale-Up Results, James R. Foreit
Using Systematic Screening To Integrate Health Services In India And Senegal: Pilot Study Versus Scale-Up Results, James R. Foreit
Reproductive Health
This study examines the effectiveness of using systematic screening to integrate health services in India and Senegal. First, a pilot study of relatively small-scale experiments was undertaken to determine if systematic screening for unmet needs for health services could increase the number of preventive care services clients receive at healthcare visits. FRONTIERS then participated in the scale-up to test the effect of different supervision and training strategies on the frequency of provider screening. Results show that systematic screening may have the potential to produce important increases in the number of services provided in many developing country settings at the pilot …
India: Quality Assurance Procedure Monitors And Improves Quality Of Services, Population Council
India: Quality Assurance Procedure Monitors And Improves Quality Of Services, Population Council
Reproductive Health
A quality assurance (QA) procedure was pilot-tested and subsequently scaled up throughout the state of Gujarat, India, after demonstrating that a 65-item checklist is an efficient tool for identifying and remedying gaps in service delivery. From 2004–06, FRONTIERS developed and tested a standardized QA procedure. The State Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) used the procedure to assess health-care services in rural clinics in two pilot districts each in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Based on positive results, the State MOHFW expanded the QA procedure in a phased manner throughout all 25 districts of Gujarat. The model is …
Day Of Dialogue On Public Sector Pricing Of Pharmaceutical Products, Population Council
Day Of Dialogue On Public Sector Pricing Of Pharmaceutical Products, Population Council
Formulation/Product Development
For decades, patients, doctors, ethicists, and other interested parties have debated the economics of the pharmaceutical industry. What is the best way to get medications and related products to the people who need them, regardless of their ability to pay? Can prices be lowered without jeopardizing basic research for new drugs? Are pharmaceutical company pricing practices monopolistic? What are the legal and ethical obligations related to drugs developed—partially or fully—with public funds? The Population Council convened a daylong meeting of academics, scientists, representatives from the nonprofit sector, the pharmaceutical industry, foundations, and government donor agencies, and practicing lawyers and doctors. …
The Impact Of Immunization On The Association Between Poverty And Child Survival: Evidence From Kassena-Nankana District Of Northern Ghana, Ayaga A. Bawah, James F. Phillips, Martin Adjuik, Maya Vaughan-Smith, Bruce Macleod, Fred N. Binka
The Impact Of Immunization On The Association Between Poverty And Child Survival: Evidence From Kassena-Nankana District Of Northern Ghana, Ayaga A. Bawah, James F. Phillips, Martin Adjuik, Maya Vaughan-Smith, Bruce Macleod, Fred N. Binka
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Research conducted in Africa has demonstrated consistently that parental poverty and low educational attainment adversely affect child survival. Relative poverty has a pronounced effect on the survival of children, even in a setting where nearly all families are poor. Results from the research presented in the working paper lend strong support to the United Nations’ goal of reducing excess childhood mortality among the poor by directing a particular focus on immunization. Findings in this working paper show that the adverse effects of poverty disappear and that the effects of educational attainment are reduced in survival models that control for immunization …