Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting In Kenya: Is Change Taking Place? Descriptive Statistics From Four Waves Of Demographic And Health Surveys,
2017
Population Council
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting In Kenya: Is Change Taking Place? Descriptive Statistics From Four Waves Of Demographic And Health Surveys, Bettina Shell-Duncan, David Gathara, Zhuzhi Moore
Reproductive Health
Nationally representative survey data on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Kenya are available from four waves of Demographic and Health Surveys. These survey data provide a rich and detailed picture of when, where, and how FGM/C has been carried out, and trends in changes in the practice. National prevalence data from successive waves of surveys show a steady decrease in the prevalence of FGM/C among women aged 15–49. While the data reported here are descriptive, they provide useful insights on the progress of FGM/C abandonment at national and subnational levels. These findings are useful for policymakers in steering discussions on …
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting In Nigeria: A Scoping Review,
2017
Population Council
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting In Nigeria: A Scoping Review, Blessing U. Mberu
Reproductive Health
This report’s overarching objective is the examination of key trends in the evidence base of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) and gaps in knowledge for Nigeria, building on a scoping review of peer-reviewed and "grey" literature along with quantitative analysis of relevant data. What is clear from prevalence levels identified over the last 15 years is how widespread different types of FGM/C are, in Nigeria’s different ethno-geographical zones, and the little change that has taken place over time, despite increased international, and renewed national, political commitment to eradicate the practice. The findings show that much work remains to be …
Florence: A Midwife Success Story,
2017
Population Council
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 …
Garment Sector Health Interventions In Cambodia: A Comprehensive Review,
2017
Population Council
Garment Sector Health Interventions In Cambodia: A Comprehensive Review, Molyaneth Heng, Ashish Bajracharya
Reproductive Health
As part of the WorkerHealth project, the Evidence Project/Population Council conducted a comprehensive review of garment sector health interventions, particularly reproductive health (RH) and family planning (FP)–focused projects, in Cambodia during the last five years. The results from the review support WorkerHealth’s objective of enabling evidence-based decisionmaking and programming related to the health and well-being of female garment factory workers in Cambodia, by documenting the range of garment sector health interventions and identifying best practices and gaps in programming and evaluation. This review identified a number of priority actions for current and future garment sector health interventions to consider in …
Health Needs, Health Seeking Pathways, And Drivers Of Health Seeking Behaviors Of Female Garment Factory Workers In Cambodia: Findings From A Qualitative Study In Phnom Penh And Kandal Provinces,
2017
Population Council
Health Needs, Health Seeking Pathways, And Drivers Of Health Seeking Behaviors Of Female Garment Factory Workers In Cambodia: Findings From A Qualitative Study In Phnom Penh And Kandal Provinces, Population Council, The Evidence Project
Reproductive Health
Existing information on Cambodian garment factory workers’ (GFWs) barriers to health services has generally come from project implementation documents or general baseline studies of these projects, rather than independent, rigorous studies that specifically examine the health needs and health-seeking behaviors of workers. Since previous studies did not include specific indicators related to workers’ health needs and health-seeking behaviors, they cannot offer a complete picture of these important issues. To fill this critical knowledge gap, in partnership with the National Institute of Public Health, the Evidence Project/Population Council conducted a formative qualitative study under the USAID-funded WorkerHealth project to improve the …
Indicators For Measurement And Improvement Of The Quality Of Family Planning Programs: The Philippines, 1997–1998,
2017
Population Council
Indicators For Measurement And Improvement Of The Quality Of Family Planning Programs: The Philippines, 1997–1998, Population Council
Reproductive Health
Quality is a critical dimension of health service provision and this brief aims to highlight the creation and use of indicators for quality of care to enhance the achievement of the reproductive health goals in the Philippines and beyond. In response to the need for program managers to understand the quality of services at the field level, the Situation Analysis approach was developed. The research underscores the importance of a composite index when measuring quality. In the case of the Philippines, the evidence suggests the need for more quality-of-care monitoring in addition to expanded access to contraceptives. Investment in counseling …
Knowledge And Practices For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Care In Bangladesh,
2017
Population Council
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.
Increasing Access To Reproductive Health Care Through Improved Service Delivery,
2017
Population Council
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 Of Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh,
2017
Population Council
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 …
Landscape Analysis: Preventing And Managing Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Pakistan,
2017
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, …
Life-Saving Medicines And Equipment In Facilities In Bangladesh,
2017
Population Council
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, …
Married Young Women And Girls' Family Planning And Maternal Heath Preferences And Use In Ethiopia,
2017
Population Council
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.
Modeling And Mapping Of Girls' Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (Fgm/C) In The Context Of Economic, Social, And Regional Disparities: Kenya Demographic And Health Surveys 1998-2014,
2017
Population Council
Modeling And Mapping Of Girls' Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (Fgm/C) In The Context Of Economic, Social, And Regional Disparities: Kenya Demographic And Health Surveys 1998-2014, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, Damaris Kinyoki, Ahmed Sarki, David Gathara, Paul Komba, Bettina Shell-Duncan
Reproductive Health
The aim of this research study is analysis of successive household data for estimating and revealing trends, similarities, and differences in geographic patterns for the burden of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and related risk factors among girls ages 14 and younger in Kenya. This Evidence to End FGM/C study, from a coalition led by the Population Council, is intended to contribute to a deeper understanding of the recent burden of FGM/C among the girls within this very young age group, and to enhance knowledge of the geographic distribution of this practice over time. The report will inform current elimination efforts …
Policies For Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia Prevention And Management In Bangladesh,
2017
Population Council
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, …
Quality Of Care In The Context Of Rights-Based Family Planning,
2017
Population Council
Quality Of Care In The Context Of Rights-Based Family Planning, Anrudh K. Jain
Reproductive Health
Over the past two decades, the quality-of-care framework has become a cornerstone of family planning (FP) programming. FP programs have been concerned about improving access and reducing the cost to the client but at the same time making services sustainable and improving their effectiveness and efficiency. Nevertheless, access to FP services is not equitable: educated, wealthier, or urban women have better access to the available services from a range of sources than their more vulnerable counterparts, who are less educated, poor, or live in rural areas. This policy brief suggests five modifications to the QoC framework, based on the comparison …
Rapid Evidence Assessment: Quality Of Studies Assessing Interventions To Support Fgm/C Abandonment,
2017
Population Council
Rapid Evidence Assessment: Quality Of Studies Assessing Interventions To Support Fgm/C Abandonment, Tammary Esho, Jamlick Karumbi, Carolyne Njue
Reproductive Health
The last decade has seen increased focus and investment in interventions to eliminate female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), along with the need to accelerate its abandonment. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) commissioned the Evidence to End FGM/C: Research to Help Girls and Women Thrive project to: 1) assess the quality of studies that have evaluated different interventions for the prevention of FGM/C, and 2) describe the FGM/C interventions that were evaluated by high-quality studies. The quality of evidence on the effectiveness and impact of FGM/C interventions is generally moderate to low. In addition, few baseline surveys are conducted prior …
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Ebonyi,
2017
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 …
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Katsina,
2017
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 …
Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Establishing A Baseline In Uganda,
2017
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 …
Resilience And Community Response To Climate-Related Events: Case Studies From Four Countries,
2017
Population Council
Resilience And Community Response To Climate-Related Events: Case Studies From Four Countries, Aviva Klein Meyers, Karen Hardee
Reproductive Health
It is important for governments, aid organizations, and researchers to understand how developing communities respond to climate change and how their efforts can be improved within a framework of resilience thinking. This review explores the definition of resilience and, more specifically, community resilience and its components, then presents four case studies of community response to extreme weather events to illustrate community resilience in action. The review is intended to provide context for and inform more detailed exploration of community resilience in integrated programming (specifically, programming designed to improve health, environment, and population outcomes). It is also intended to capture references …
