March 2, 2016 Africa, South-East Asia Publication

Reaching the poor with health interventions: programme-incidence analysis of seven randomised trials of women’s groups to reduce newborn mortality in Asia and Africa

Background Efforts to end preventable newborn deaths will fail if the poor are not reached with effective interventions. To understand what works to reach vulnerable groups, we describe and explain the uptake of a highly effective community-based newborn health intervention across social strata in Asia and Africa.

Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of seven randomised trials of participatory women’s groups to reduce newborn mortality in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malawi. We analysed data on 70 574 pregnancies. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic differences in group attendance were tested using logistic regression. Qualitative data were collected at each trial site (225 focus groups, 20 interviews) to understand our results.

Results Socioeconomic differences in women’s group attendance were small, except for occasional lower attendance by elites. Sociodemographic differences were large, with lower attendance by young primigravid women in African as well as in South Asian sites. The intervention was considered relevant ...

Sept. 27, 2018 Africa Publication

Health facility delivery in sub-Saharan Africa: successes, challenges, and implications for the 2030 development agenda

Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the regions with modest health outcomes; and evidenced by high maternal mortality ratios and under-5 mortality rates. There are complications that occur during and following pregnancy and childbirth that can contribute to maternal deaths; most of which are preventable or treatable. Evidence shows that early and regular attendance of antenatal care and delivery in a health facility under the supervision of trained personnel is associated with improved maternal health outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess changes in and determinants of health facility delivery using nationally representative surveys in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sept. 14, 2020 Eastern Mediterranean Publication

Effects of Training Health Workers in Integrated Management of Childhood Illness on Quality of Care for Under-5 Children in Primary Healthcare Facilities in Afghanistan

Neonatal and infant mortality in Afghanistan has decreased considerably since 1990. Despite this, infant morbidity and mortality remains among the highest in the world. In relation to this, the integrated training in the primary care of health workers regarding the main diseases that affect children is an effective strategy.
This article shows the results related to the quality of care for children under 5 years of age, from the training of health workers.