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Blizzard S, Dennis M, Subah M, Tehoungue BZ, Zizi R, Kraemer JD, White E, Hirschhorn LR. A repeated cross-sectional study of the association of community health worker intervention with the maternal continuum of care in rural Liberian communities. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:841. [PMID: 38062415 PMCID: PMC10701987 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The maternal continuum of care (CoC) (antenatal care, facility-based delivery, postnatal care) is critical to maternal and neonatal health and reducing mortality, but completion in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries is often limited. We used repeated cross-sectional household surveys from a rural Liberian county to explore changes in rates of completion of all steps and no steps in the maternal CoC after implementation of the National Community Health Assistant Program (NCHAP), a community health worker (CHW) intervention designed to increase care uptake for families over five kilometers from a facility. METHODS We analyzed repeated cross-sectional household surveys of women aged 18-49 served by NCHAP in Rivercess County, Liberia. We measured survey-weighted, before-to-after implementation difference in completion of all steps and no steps in the maternal CoC. We used multivariable regression to explore covariates associated with completion rates before and after NCHAP implementation. RESULTS Data from surveys conducted at three timepoints (2015, n = 354; 2018, n = 312; 2021, n = 302) were analyzed. A significant increase in completing the full maternal CoC (2015:23.6%, 2018:53.4%, change:29.7% points (pp), 95% confidence interval (CI) [21.0,38.4]) and a decrease in completing no steps in the CoC (2015:17.6%, 2018:4.0%, change: -12.4pp [-17.6, -7.2]) after implementation of NCHAP were observed from 2015 to 2018, with rates maintained from 2018 to 2021. Living farther from a facility was consistently associated with less care across the continuum. Following implementation, living in a motorbike accessible community was associated with completing the CoC while living in a mining community was negatively associated with omitting the CoC. Household wealth was associated with differences in rates pre-NCHAP but not post-NCHAP. CONCLUSIONS Following NCHAP implementation, completion rate of the full maternal CoC in Rivercess County more than doubled while the rate of completing no steps in the continuum fell below 5%. These rates were sustained over time including during COVID-19 with reduced differences across wealth groups, although far distances remained a risk for less care. CHW programs providing active outreach to remote communities can be important tools for improving uptake of interventions and reducing risk of no formal care during and after pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Blizzard
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - John D Kraemer
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Georgetown University School of Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Lisa R Hirschhorn
- Department of Medical Social Sciences and Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Matovelo D, Boniphace M, Singhal N, Nettel-Aguirre A, Kabakyenga J, Turyakira E, Mercader HFG, Khan S, Shaban G, Kyomuhangi T, Hobbs AJ, Manalili K, Subi L, Hatfield J, Ngallaba S, Brenner JL. Evaluation of a comprehensive maternal newborn health intervention in rural Tanzania: single-arm pre-post coverage survey results. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:2137281. [PMID: 36369729 PMCID: PMC9665093 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2137281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Tanzania, maternal and newborn deaths can be prevented via quality facility-based antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC). Scalable, integrated, and comprehensive interventions addressing demand and service-side care-seeking barriers are needed. Objective Assess coverage survey indicators before and after a comprehensive maternal newborn health (MNH) intervention in Misungwi District, Tanzania. Methods A prospective, single-arm, pre- (2016) and post-(2019) coverage survey (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02506413) was used to assess key maternal and newborn health (MNH) outcomes. The Mama na Mtoto intervention included district activities (planning, leadership training, supportive supervision), health facility activities (training, equipment, infrastructure upgrades), and plus community health worker mobilization. Implementation change strategies, a process model, and a motivational framework incorporated best practices from a similar Ugandan intervention. Cluster sampling randomized hamlets then used ‘wedge sampling’ protocol as an alternative to full household enumeration. Key outcomes included: four or more ANC visits (ANC4+); skilled birth attendant (SBA); PNC for mother within 48 hours (PNC-woman); health facility delivery (HFD); and PNC for newborn within 48 hours (PNC-baby). Trained interviewers administered the ‘Real Accountability: Data Analysis for Results Coverage Survey to women 15–49 years old. Descriptive statistics incorporated design effect; the Lives Saved Tool estimated deaths averted based on ANC4+/HFD. Results Between baseline (n = 2,431) and endline (n = 2,070), surveys revealed significant absolute percentage increases for ANC4+ (+11.6, 95% CI [5.4, 17.7], p < 0.001), SBA (+16.6, 95% CI [11.1, 22.0], p < 0.001), PNC-woman (+9.2, 95% CI [3.2, 15.2], p = 0.002), and HFD (+17.2%, 95% CI [11.3, 23.1], p < 0.001). A PNC-baby increase (+6.1%, 95% CI [−0.5, 12.8], p = 0.07) was not statistically significant. An estimated 121 neonatal and 20 maternal lives were saved between 2016 and 2019. Conclusions Full-district scale-up of a comprehensive MNH package embedded government health system was successfully implemented over a short time and associated with significant maternal care-seeking improvements and potential for lives saved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dismas Matovelo
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Catholic University of Health & Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Maendeleo Boniphace
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Catholic University of Health & Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Nalini Singhal
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Alberto Nettel-Aguirre
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Centre for Health and Social Analytics, NIASRA, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Jerome Kabakyenga
- Institute of Maternal Newborn and Child Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Eleanor Turyakira
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Hannah Faye G. Mercader
- Indigenous, Local & Global Health Office, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sundus Khan
- Indigenous, Local & Global Health Office, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Girles Shaban
- Department of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Teddy Kyomuhangi
- Institute of Maternal Newborn and Child Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Amy J. Hobbs
- Indigenous, Local & Global Health Office, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Institute for International Programs, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, United States
| | - Kimberly Manalili
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Leonard Subi
- Department of Preventive Services, Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Jennifer Hatfield
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sospatro Ngallaba
- Department of Community Health, Catholic University of Health & Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Jennifer L. Brenner
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Indigenous, Local & Global Health Office, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Nelson JR, Ess RH, Dickerson TT, Gren LH, Benson LS, Manortey SO, Alder SC. Strategies to increase rural maternal utilization of skilled health personnel for childbirth delivery in low- and middle-income countries: a narrative review. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:2058170. [PMID: 35506937 PMCID: PMC9090426 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2058170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skilled attendance at birth is considered key to accomplishing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 aimed at reducing maternal mortality. Many maternal deaths can be prevented if a woman receives care by skilled health personnel. Maternal utilization of skilled health delivery services in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries is 70% compared to 90% in urban areas. Previous studies have found community-based interventions may increase rural maternal uptake of skilled health delivery services, but evidence is lacking on which strategies are most effective. OBJECTIVE To review the effectiveness of community-based strategies to increase rural maternal utilization of skilled health personnel for childbirth delivery in low-and middle-income countries. METHODS We conducted a narrative review. PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles from database inception through 13 November 2019. Key search terms were pre-determined. Information was extracted on studies meeting our inclusion criteria: cluster and randomized trials, rural setting, reproductive aged women, community engagement, low- and middle-income countries. Studies were considered effective if statistically significant (p < 0.05). A narrative synthesis was conducted. RESULTS Ten cluster randomized trials out of 5,895 candidate citations met the inclusion criteria. Strategies included home-based visits, women's groups, and combined approaches. Out of the ten articles, only three studies were found to significantly increase maternal uptake of skilled health personnel for delivery, and each used a different strategy. The results are inconclusive as to which strategies are most effective. Limitations of this review include heterogeneity and generalizability of studies. CONCLUSIONS This research suggests that different strategies may be effective at improving maternal utilization of skilled health personnel for delivery in certain rural settings while ineffective in others. More research is warranted to better understand the context in which strategies may be effective and under what conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette R. Nelson
- Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,CONTACT Jeanette R. Nelson University of Utah, 1655 E. Campus Center Dr., SFEBB 113, Salt Lake City, UT84112-8939, USA
| | - Rebekah H. Ess
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ty T. Dickerson
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lisa H. Gren
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - L. Scott Benson
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - Stephen C. Alder
- Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,Ensign Global College, Kpong, Ghana,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine; Departments of Health and Kinesiology and Health Promotion & Education, College of Health; Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, David Eccles School of Business; University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Dada S, Tunçalp Ö, Portela A, Barreix M, Gilmore B. Community mobilization to strengthen support for appropriate and timely use of antenatal and postnatal care: A review of reviews. J Glob Health 2022; 11:04076. [PMID: 35003714 PMCID: PMC8710228 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.04076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) are critical opportunities for women, babies and parents/families to receive quality care and support from health services. Community-based interventions may improve the accessibility, availability, and acceptance of this vital care. For example, community mobilization strategies have been used to involve and collaborate with women, families and communities to improve maternal and newborn health. Objective To synthesize existing reviews of evidence on community mobilization strategies that strengthen support for appropriate and timely use of ANC and PNC. Methods Six databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO) were searched for published reviews that describe community mobilization related strategies for ANC and/or PNC. Reviews were eligible for inclusion if they described any initiatives or strategies targeting the promotion of ANC and/or PNC uptake that included an element of community mobilization in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC), published after 2000. Included reviews were critically appraised according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Evidence Syntheses. This review of reviews was conducted following JBI guidelines for undertaking and reporting umbrella reviews. Results In total 23 papers, representing 22 reviews were included. While all 22 reviews contained some description of community mobilization and ANC/PNC, 13 presented more in-depth details on the community mobilization processes and relevant outcomes. Seventeen reviews focused on ANC, four considered both ANC and PNC, and only one focused on PNC. Overall, 16 reviews reported at least one positive association between community mobilization activities and ANC/PNC uptake, while five reviews presented primary studies with no statistically significant change in ANC uptake and one included a primary study with a decrease in use of antenatal facilities. The community mobilization activities described by the reviews ranged from informative, passive communication to more active, participatory approaches that included engaging individuals or consulting local leaders and community members to develop priorities and action plans. Conclusions While there is considerable momentum around incorporating community mobilization activities in maternal and newborn health programs, such as improving community support for the uptake of ANC and PNC, there is limited evidence on the processes used. Furthermore, the spectrum of terminology and variation in definitions should be harmonized to guide the implementation and evaluation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Dada
- UCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education and Innovation in Health Systems, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Özge Tunçalp
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anayda Portela
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - María Barreix
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Brynne Gilmore
- UCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education and Innovation in Health Systems, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Md. Sharif S, Yap WS, Fun WH, Yoon EL, Abd Razak NF, Sararaks S, Lee SWH. Midwifery Qualification in Selected Countries: A Rapid Review. NURSING REPORTS 2021; 11:859-880. [PMID: 34968274 PMCID: PMC8715462 DOI: 10.3390/nursrep11040080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) shows a decreasing trend, there is room for improvement. Midwifery education has been under scrutiny to ensure that graduates acquire knowledge and skills relevant to the local context. OBJECTIVE To review the basic professional midwifery qualification and pre-practice requirements in countries with lower MMR compared with Malaysia. METHODS A rapid review of country-specific Ministry of Health and Midwifery Association websites and Advanced Google using standardised key words. English-language documents reporting the qualifications of midwives or other requirements to practise midwifery from countries with a lower MMR than Malaysia were included. RESULTS Sixty-three documents from 35 countries were included. The minimum qualification required to become a midwife was a bachelor's degree. Most countries require registration or licensing to practise, and 35.5% have implemented preregistration national midwifery examinations. In addition, 13 countries require midwives to have nursing backgrounds. CONCLUSION In countries achieving better maternal outcomes than Malaysia, midwifes often have a degree or higher qualification. As such, there is a need to reinvestigate and revise the midwifery qualification requirements in Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakirah Md. Sharif
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia; (W.S.Y.); (W.H.F.); (E.L.Y.); (N.F.A.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Wuan Shuen Yap
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia; (W.S.Y.); (W.H.F.); (E.L.Y.); (N.F.A.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Weng Hong Fun
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia; (W.S.Y.); (W.H.F.); (E.L.Y.); (N.F.A.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Ee Ling Yoon
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia; (W.S.Y.); (W.H.F.); (E.L.Y.); (N.F.A.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Nur Fadzilah Abd Razak
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia; (W.S.Y.); (W.H.F.); (E.L.Y.); (N.F.A.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Sondi Sararaks
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia; (W.S.Y.); (W.H.F.); (E.L.Y.); (N.F.A.R.); (S.S.)
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Mushamiri I, Belai W, Sacks E, Genberg B, Gupta S, Perry HB. Evidence on the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving HIV/AIDS outcomes for mothers and children in low- and middle-income countries: Findings from a systematic review. J Glob Health 2021; 11:11001. [PMID: 34327001 PMCID: PMC8284540 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.11001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of community-based primary health care (CBPHC) interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially for maternal, neonatal and child health, is well established. However, there has not been a systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of CBPHC on HIV outcomes derived from rigorous assessments of primary studies. Using peer-reviewed studies of randomized interventions or those containing a specified control group and directly measuring clinical HIV outcomes, we provide evidence for the effectiveness of CBPHC on HIV outcomes for mothers and children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS Eligibility criteria included studies assessing the effectiveness of community-based HIV interventions with or without a facility-based component, or multiple integrated projects, with outcome measures defining an aspect of HIV health status such as the utilization of prevention or health care services, nutritional status, serious morbidity (including clinical measures of HIV progression) or mortality of children aged five or younger and pregnant women. Articles published through June 3, 2020 were identified by searching four databases. The type of community-based projects implemented, the implementors, and the implementation strategies of each program were identified and the impact on HIV-related outcomes assessed. RESULTS The search yielded 10 537 articles; 4881 underwent title and abstract screening after removing duplicates. Of these, 117 studies qualified for full-text screening; only 22 were included in the final analysis. Most studies showed that community-based interventions improved HIV prevention and treatment outcomes compared to facility-based approaches alone. Each study had at least one statistically significant HIV-related outcome; the non-significant outcomes found in six of the 22 studies were mostly not related to HIV programming. Most interventions were implemented by community health workers; other implementers were government workers, community members, or research staff. Strategies used included peer-to-peer education, psychosocial support, training of community champions, community-based follow-up care, home-based care, and integrated care. CONCLUSIONS CBPHC strategies are effective in improving population-based, HIV-related health outcomes for mothers and children, especially in combination with facility-based approaches. However, there is a need to assess the scalability of such interventions and integrate them into existing health systems to assess their impact on the HIV pandemic in more routine settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Mushamiri
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Wintana Belai
- Department of International Health, Division of Health Systems, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emma Sacks
- Department of International Health, Division of Health Systems, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Becky Genberg
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sundeep Gupta
- University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Division of Health Systems, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Wilhelm J, Mahapatra T, Das A, Sonthalia S, Srikantiah S, Galavotti C, Shah H, Creanga AA. From direct engagement to technical support: a programmatic evolution to improve large community health worker programs in Bihar, India. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:bmjgh-2020-004389. [PMID: 33853844 PMCID: PMC8054080 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In 2011, through a multipartner Integrated Family Health Initiative (IFHI), CARE started supporting maternal and neonatal health (MNH) improvement goals in 8 of 38 districts in Bihar, India. The programme included a frontline health worker (FHW) component offering health advice through household visits and benefited from CARE's direct engagement during IFHI, which then evolved into statewide Technical Support Unit (TSU) to the Government of Bihar in 2014. METHODS Using eight rounds of state-representative household surveys with mothers of infants aged 0-2 months (N=73 093) linked with two facility assessments conducted during 2012-2017, we assessed changes in FHW visit coverage, intensity and quality between IFHI and TSU phases. Using logistic regression models, we ascertained associations between FHW outputs and three MNH core practices: ≥3 antenatal care check-ups (ANC3+), institutional delivery and early breastfeeding initiation. RESULTS Women's receipt of 1+ FHW visits declined from 60.2% (IFHI phase) to 46.3% (TSU phase) in the eight IFHI districts, being below 40% statewide during the TSU phase. Despite a parallel decline in FHW visit quality measured as the number of health advice received, all three outcomes improved during the TSU versus IFHI phase in IFHI districts. We found significant positive associations between all three outcomes and receipt of 1+ FHW visits and programme phase (TSU vs IFHI) in the eight IFHI districts. During the TSU phase, receipt of 2+ FHW visits in the third trimester increased the odds of women receiving ANC3+ (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.21; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.31), delivering in a facility (aOR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.51 to 1.77) and initiating breast feeding early (aOR=1.18; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.18). Independent of the number and timing of FHW visits, we also found positive associations between women reporting higher than lower quality of FHW interactions and receiving outcome-specific advice and all three MNH outcomes. CONCLUSION Implementation of large community-based interventions under the technical support model should be continuously and strategically evaluated and adapted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess Wilhelm
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tanmay Mahapatra
- CARE India Solutions for Sustainable Development, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Aritra Das
- CARE India Solutions for Sustainable Development, Patna, Bihar, India.,CARE USA, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sunil Sonthalia
- CARE India Solutions for Sustainable Development, Patna, Bihar, India
| | | | | | - Hemant Shah
- CARE India Solutions for Sustainable Development, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Andreea A Creanga
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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McClair TL, Sripad P, Casseus A, Hossain S, Abuya T, Gottert A. The Client Empowerment in Community Health Systems Scale: Development and validation in three countries. J Glob Health 2021; 11:07010. [PMID: 33763224 PMCID: PMC7955957 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.07010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effectively measuring client empowerment is critical for monitoring and supporting empowerment through interventions, including via community health workers (CHWs) on the front line. Yet a comprehensive measure capturing the multidimensional aspects of client empowerment is not currently available. We aimed to develop and validate the Client Empowerment in Community Health Systems (CE-CHS) Scale in three countries. METHODS We used data from cross-sectional surveys from 2019-2020 with clients of CHWs in Bangladesh (n = 1384), Haiti (n = 616), and Kenya (n = 306). Nineteen candidate CE-CHS Scale items were adapted from existing health empowerment and sociopolitical control scales. Items spanned three hypothesized sub-domains: personal agency around health (eg, "I feel in control of my health"), agency in sharing health information with others (eg, "I feel confident sharing health information with my family/friends"), and empowerment in community health systems (eg, "Most facility/managers would listen to any concerns I raise"). Face and content validity of items were assessed via two focus group discussions in Haiti. For each country, we conducted split-sample exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) and assessed internal consistency reliability. We assessed convergent validity by comparing final full-scale and sub-dimension scores to theoretically related variables. RESULTS All participants in Bangladesh and Kenya were female, as were 85% in Haiti. Mean age in Bangladesh and Kenya was around 25 years; 40 in Haiti. EFA/CFA resulted in a final 16-item CE-CHS Scale representing the three hypothesized sub-scales. Three items were dropped in EFA due to poor performance. CFA fit statistics were good for the full-scale and each sub-scale. The mean CE-CHS score (range 1 to 4) was 2.4 in in Bangladesh, 2.8 in Haiti, and 3.0 in Kenya. Cronbach's alpha and ordinal theta of the full and sub-scales were greater than 0.7. Increased empowerment was associated with increased trust in CHWs, influence of CHWs on empowerment, satisfaction with CHW services, number of CHW interactions, civic engagement, and education, with slight variations in magnitude and significance by country. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that the 16-item CE-CHS Scale is valid and reliable. This scale can be used to assess levels and determinants of, and changes in, client empowerment in future implementation research and monitoring of community health systems.
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Borovac-Pinheiro A, Priyadarshani P, Burke TF. A review of postpartum hemorrhage in low-income countries and implications for strengthening health systems. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021; 154:393-399. [PMID: 33529365 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Disparities in PPH-associated survival between high and low-/middle-income countries reflect an imperative for low-resource countries to improve strategies for rapid diagnosis and treatment. A review of current PPH diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and access to care in low-income countries has been used to understand, extract, and report the challenges that public health systems face in trying to solve the marked global disparity in PPH outcomes. Improvement in PPH survival begins with holistic strengthening of each step along the continuum of care in health systems and should include performance feedback measures and quality-of-care research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Borovac-Pinheiro
- Global Health Innovation Lab, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Preeti Priyadarshani
- Global Health Innovation Lab, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, India
| | - Thomas F Burke
- Global Health Innovation Lab, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard T, H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Darmstadt GL, Weng Y, Pepper KT, Ward VC, Mehta KM, Borkum E, Bentley J, Raheel H, Rangarajan A, Bhattacharya D, Tarigopula UK, Nanda P, Sridharan S, Rotz D, Carmichael SL, Abdalla S, Munar W. Impact of the Ananya program on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition in Bihar, India: early results from a quasi-experimental study. J Glob Health 2020. [DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.0201002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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11
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Darmstadt GL, Weng Y, Pepper KT, Ward VC, Mehta KM, Borkum E, Bentley J, Raheel H, Rangarajan A, Bhattacharya D, Tarigopula UK, Nanda P, Sridharan S, Rotz D, Carmichael SL, Abdalla S, Munar W. Impact of the Ananya program on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition in Bihar, India: early results from a quasi-experimental study. J Glob Health 2020; 10:021002. [PMID: 33427822 PMCID: PMC7757842 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.021002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Government of Bihar (GoB) in India, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and several non-governmental organisations launched the Ananya program aimed to support the GoB to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition (RMNCHN) statewide. Here we summarise changes in indicators attained during the initial two-year pilot phase (2012-2013) of implementation in eight focus districts of approximately 28 million population, aimed to inform subsequent scale-up. METHODS The quasi-experimental impact evaluation included statewide household surveys at two time points during the pilot phase: January-April 2012 ("baseline") including an initial cohort of beneficiaries and January-April 2014 ("midline") with a new cohort. The two arms were: 1) eight intervention districts, and 2) a comparison arm comprised of the remaining 30 districts in Bihar where Ananya interventions were not implemented. We analysed changes in indicators across the RMNCHN continuum of care from baseline to midline in intervention and comparison districts using a difference-in-difference analysis. RESULTS Indicators in the two arms were similar at baseline. Overall, 40% of indicators (20 of 51) changed significantly from baseline to midline in the comparison districts unrelated to Ananya; two-thirds (n = 13) of secular indicator changes were in a direction expected to promote health. Statistically significant impact attributable to the Ananya program was found for 10% (five of 51) of RMNCHN indicators. Positive impacts were most prominent for mother's behaviours in contraceptive utilisation. CONCLUSIONS The Ananya program had limited impact in improving health-related outcomes during the first two-year period covered by this evaluation. The program's theories of change and action were not powered to observe statistically significant differences in RMNCHN indicators within two years, but rather aimed to help inform program improvements and scale-up. Evaluation of large-scale programs such as Ananya using theory-informed, equity-sensitive (including gender), mixed-methods approaches can help elucidate causality and better explain pathways through which supply- and demand-side interventions contribute to changes in behaviour among the actors involved in the production of population-level health outcomes. Evidence from Bihar indicates that deep structural constraints in health system organisation and delivery of interventions pose substantial limitations on behaviour change among health care providers and beneficiaries. STUDY REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02726230.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary L Darmstadt
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Yingjie Weng
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kevin T Pepper
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Victoria C Ward
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kala M Mehta
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Jason Bentley
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Hina Raheel
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Priya Nanda
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Delhi, India
| | | | - Dana Rotz
- Mathematica, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Suzan L Carmichael
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Safa Abdalla
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Wolfgang Munar
- Department of Global Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, D.C., USA
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Edward A, Krishnan A, Ettyang G, Jung Y, Perry HB, Ghee AE, Chege J. Can people-centered community-oriented interventions improve skilled birth attendance? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in rural communities of Cambodia, Kenya, and Zambia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020; 20:514. [PMID: 32891128 PMCID: PMC7487807 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03223-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Skilled attendance at delivery is a key marker for reducing maternal mortality. Effective community engagement strategies complemented by community health worker (CHW) services can improve access to maternal health services in areas with limited health infrastructure or workforce. Methods A quasi-experimental study with matched comparison groups was conducted in Cambodia, Kenya and Zambia to determine the effect of integrated community investments on skilled birth attendance (SBA). In each country, communities in two districts/sub-districts received a package of community-oriented interventions comprised of timed CHW household health promotion for maternal, newborn and child health complemented by social accountability mechanisms using community scorecards. Two matched comparison districts/sub-districts received ongoing routine interventions. Data from the final evaluation were examined to determine the effect of timed CHW services and community-oriented interventions on SBA. Results Over 80% of the 3037 women in Cambodia, 2805 women in Kenya and 1171 women in Zambia reported SBA. Women in intervention sites who received timely CHW health promotion and social accountability mechanisms in Cambodia showed significantly higher odds of SBA (aOR = 7.48; 95% CI: 3.87, 14.5). The findings also indicated that women over the age of 24 in Cambodia, women with primary or secondary education in Cambodia and secondary education in Kenya, women from higher wealth quintiles in Cambodia, and women with four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits in all countries reported significantly higher odds of SBA. Inclusion of family members in pregnancy-related discussions in Kenya (aOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.06, 4.26) and Zambia (aOR = 6.78; 95% CI: 1.15, 13.9) and follow up CHW visits after a referral or health facility visit (aOR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.30, 4.60 in Cambodia; aOR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.25, 3.75 in Kenya; aOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.02 in Zambia) also showed significantly greater odds of SBA. Conclusions Enhancing people-centered care through culturally appropriate community-oriented strategies integrating timely CHW health promotion and social accountability mechanisms shows some evidence for improving SBA during delivery. These strategies can accelerate the achievement of the sustainable development goals for maternal child and newborn health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anbrasi Edward
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Aparna Krishnan
- Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2196, USA
| | - Grace Ettyang
- Moi University School of Public Health, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Younghee Jung
- WHO Timor-Leste Office United Nations House Caicoli street, Dili, Timor-Leste
| | - Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Annette E Ghee
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jane Chege
- World Vision International, Washington DC, USA
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Kumar MB, Taegtmeyer M, Madan J, Ndima S, Chikaphupha K, Kea A, Barasa E. How do decision-makers use evidence in community health policy and financing decisions? A qualitative study and conceptual framework in four African countries. Health Policy Plan 2020; 35:799-809. [PMID: 32516361 PMCID: PMC7487332 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czaa027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Various investments could help countries deliver on the universal health coverage (UHC) goals set by the global community; community health is a pillar of many national strategies towards UHC. Yet despite resource mobilization towards this end, little is known about the potential costs and value of these investments, as well as how evidence on the same would be used in related decisions. This qualitative study was conducted to understand the use of evidence in policy and financing decisions for large-scale community health programmes in low- and middle-income countries. Through key informant interviews with 43 respondents in countries with community health embedded in national UHC strategies (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique) and at global institutions, we investigated evidence use in community health financing and policy decision-making, as well as evidentiary needs related to community health data for decision-making. We found that evidence use is limited at all levels, in part due to a perceived lack of high-quality, relevant evidence. This perception stems from two main areas: first, desire for local evidence that reflects the context, and second, much existing economic evidence does not deal with what decision-makers value when it comes to community health systems-i.e. coverage and (to a lesser extent) quality. Beyond the evidence gap, there is limited capacity to assess and use the evidence. Elected officials also face political challenges to disinvestment as well as structural obstacles to evidence use, including the outsized influence of donor priorities. Evaluation data must to speak to decision-maker interests and constraints more directly, alongside financiers of community health providing explicit guidance and support on the role of evidence use in decision-making, empowering national decision-makers. Improved data quality, increased relevance of evidence and capacity for evidence use can drive improved efficiency of financing and evidence-based policymaking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Bruce Kumar
- Community Health Systems Group, Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Miriam Taegtmeyer
- Community Health Systems Group, Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Tropical Infectious Disease Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jason Madan
- Centre for Health Economics at Warwick, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sozinho Ndima
- Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Aschenaki Kea
- School of Public and Environmental Health, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
- Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Brandt AJ, Pedroza J, Cassiani SHDB, Brown S, da Silva FAM. Maternal health training priorities for nursing and allied professions in Haiti. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2020; 44:e67. [PMID: 32684914 PMCID: PMC7363286 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2020.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study summarizes the findings of a training needs and priority assessment completed in Haiti. Its objective is to describe the characteristics of nursing and allied professions providing first level maternal health care and identify training needs and priorities to inform planning of Human Resources for Health interventions. Methods A cross-sectional survey was completed between October 2016 and March 2017 by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Haiti office in collaboration with national health authorities. Participants reached consensus to submit one finalized version of the survey. Data were collected on composition, capacities, and training needs and priorities of traditional birth attendants, community health workers, registered nurses, professional midwives, and auxiliary nurses. Results Haiti relies heavily on community level workers including community health workers, auxiliary nurses, and traditional birth attendants. Traditional birth attendants attend the majority of Haiti's births, despite having low education levels and not being regulated by the Ministry of Public Health and Population. All professional categories prioritize preventive capacities such as timely identification of complications, while none are trained to manage postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, or eclampsia. Management of obstetric emergencies is a training priority for Haiti but is not part of the scope of work of the nursing and allied health professions included in this study. Conclusions Community level health workers are key in providing preventive care and referral of complicated pregnancies, but lack of access to providers qualified to treat obstetric complications remains a challenge to reducing maternal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J Brandt
- Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Washington DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Julio Pedroza
- Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Port-au-Prince Haiti Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Silvia H de Bortoli Cassiani
- Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Washington DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Samantha Brown
- George Washington University Washington DC United States of America George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Fernando A Menezes da Silva
- Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Washington DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington DC, United States of America
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Evaluation of a health promotion intervention associated with birthing centres in rural Nepal. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233607. [PMID: 32442234 PMCID: PMC7244127 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Birthing centres (BC) in Nepal are mostly situated in rural areas and provide care for women without complications. However, they are often bypassed by women and their role in providing good quality maternity services is overlooked. This study evaluated an intervention to increase access and utilisation of perinatal care facilities in community settings. METHODS This longitudinal cross-sectional study was conducted over five years in four villages in Nepal and included two BCs. An intervention was conducted in 2014-2016 that involved supporting the BCs and conducting a health promotion programme with local women. Population-based multi-stage sampling of women of reproductive age with a child below 24 months of age was undertaken. Household surveys were conducted (2012 and 2017) employing trained enumerators and using a structured validated questionnaire. The collected data were entered into SPSS and analysed comparing pre- and post-intervention surveys. RESULTS The intervention was associated with an increase in uptake in facility birth, with an increase in utilisation of perinatal services available from BCs. The post-intervention survey provided evidence that women were more likely to give birth at primary care facilities (OR 5.60, p-value <0.001) than prior to the intervention. Similarly, the likelihood of giving birth at a health facility increased if decision for birthplace was made jointly by women and family members for primary care facilities (OR 1.76, p-value 0.023) and hospitals/tertiary care facilities (OR 1.78, p-value 0.020. If women had less than four ANC visits, then they were less likely to give birth at primary care facilities (OR 0.39, p-value <0.001) or hospitals/tertiary care facilities (OR 0.63, p-value 0.014). Finally, women were less likely to give birth at primary care facilities if they had only primary level of education (OR 0.49, p-value 0.014). CONCLUSION BCs have the potential to increase the births at health facilities and decrease home births if their services are promoted by the local health promoters. In addition, socio-economic factors including women's education, the level of women's autonomy and having four or more ANC visits affect the utilisation of perinatal services at the health facility.
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McGowan CR, Baxter L, Deola C, Gayford M, Marston C, Cummings R, Checchi F. Mobile clinics in humanitarian emergencies: a systematic review. Confl Health 2020; 14:4. [PMID: 32021649 PMCID: PMC6993397 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-020-0251-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the widespread reliance on mobile clinics for delivering health services in humanitarian emergencies there is little empirical evidence to support their use. We report a narrative systematic review of the empirical evidence evaluating the use of mobile clinics in humanitarian settings. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, Health Management Information Consortium, and The Cochrane Library for manuscripts published between 2000 and 2019. We also conducted a grey literature search via Global Health, Open Grey, and the WHO publication database. Empirical studies were included if they reported on at least one of the following evaluation criteria: relevance/appropriateness, connectedness, coherence, coverage, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact. FINDINGS Five studies met the inclusion criteria: all supported the use of mobile clinics in the particular setting under study. Three studies included controls. Two studies were assessed as good quality. The studies reported on mobile clinics providing non-communicable disease interventions, mental health services, sexual and reproductive health services, and multiple primary health care services in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Haiti, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Studies assessed one or more of the following evaluation domains: relevance/appropriateness, coverage, efficiency, and effectiveness. Four studies made recommendations including: i) ensure that mobile clinics are designed to complement clinic-based services; ii) improve technological tools to support patient follow-up, improve record-keeping, communication, and coordination; iii) avoid labelling services in a way that might stigmatise attendees; iv) strengthen referral to psychosocial and mental health services; v) partner with local providers to leverage resources; and vi) ensure strong coordination to optimise the continuum of care. Recommendations regarding the evaluation of mobile clinics include carrying out comparative studies of various modalities (including fixed facilities and community health workers) in order to isolate the effects of the mobile clinics. In the absence of a sound evidence base informing the use of mobile clinics in humanitarian crises, we encourage the integration of: i) WASH services, ii) nutrition services, iii) epidemic surveillance, and iv) systems to ensure the quality and safety of patient care. We recommend that future evaluations report against an established evaluation framework. CONCLUSION Evidence supporting the use of mobile clinics in humanitarian emergencies is limited. We encourage more studies of the use of mobile clinics in emergency settings. FUNDING Salary support for this review was provided under the RECAP project by United Kingdom Research and Innovation as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund, grant number ES/P010873/1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine R. McGowan
- Humanitarian Public Health Technical Unit, Save the Children UK, London, UK
- Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9SH, London, UK
| | - Louisa Baxter
- Humanitarian Public Health Technical Unit, Save the Children UK, London, UK
| | - Claudio Deola
- Humanitarian Public Health Technical Unit, Save the Children UK, London, UK
| | - Megan Gayford
- Humanitarian Public Health Technical Unit, Save the Children UK, London, UK
| | - Cicely Marston
- Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9SH, London, UK
| | - Rachael Cummings
- Humanitarian Public Health Technical Unit, Save the Children UK, London, UK
| | - Francesco Checchi
- Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Lu C, Palazuelos D, Luan Y, Sachs SE, Mitnick CD, Rhatigan J, Perry HB. Development assistance for community health workers in 114 low- and middle-income countries, 2007-2017. Bull World Health Organ 2020; 98:30-39. [PMID: 31902960 PMCID: PMC6933433 DOI: 10.2471/blt.19.235499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the level and trend of development assistance for community health worker-related projects in low- and middle-income countries between 2007 and 2017. METHODS We extracted data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's creditor reporting system on aid funding for projects to support community health workers (CHWs) in 114 countries over 2007-2017. We produced estimates for projects specifically described by relevant keywords and for projects which could include components on CHWs. We analysed the pattern of development assistance by purpose, donors, recipient regions and countries, and trends over time. FINDINGS Between 2007 and 2017, total development assistance targeting CHW projects was around United States dollars (US$) 5 298.02 million, accounting for 2.5% of the US$ 209 277.99 million total development assistance for health. The top three donors (Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the government of Canada and the government of the United States of America) provided a total of US$ 4 350.08 million (82.1%) of development assistance for these projects. Sub-Saharan Africa received a total US$ 3 717.93 million, the largest per capita assistance over 11 years (US$ 0.39; total population: 9 426.25 million). Development assistance to projects that focused on infectious diseases and child and maternal health received most funds during the study period. CONCLUSION The share of development assistance invested in the CHW projects was small, unstable and decreasing in recent years. More research is needed on tracking government investments in CHW-related projects and assessing the impact of investments on programme effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunling Lu
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America (USA)
| | - Daniel Palazuelos
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America (USA)
| | - Yiqun Luan
- The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, USA
| | | | - Carole Diane Mitnick
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Joseph Rhatigan
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America (USA)
| | - Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
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Brandt AJ, Brown S, Cassiani SHDB, da Silva FAM. Maternal health training priorities for nursing and allied health workers in Colombia, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2019; 43:e7. [PMID: 31093231 PMCID: PMC6393731 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2019.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess maternal health training priorities for primary care human resources for health (HRH) in nursing and allied health workers in Colombia, Honduras, and Nicaragua, to inform maternal care HRH strategic planning efforts. Methods This Washington, D.C.-based study utilized cross-sectional survey methodology to collect country-level data. From October 2016 to March 2017, a needs assessment tool was developed by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers. Data collection was completed by PAHO/WHO country offices, in collaboration with national health authorities and other high-level government personnel. The collected data included information on the composition, capacities, and training priorities of traditional birth attendants (TBAs), community health workers (CHWs), registered nurses (RNs), and auxiliary nurses in the three study countries; the findings were summarized in a report. Results Data on the health workforce composition in the three countries indicated reliance on HRH with low levels of education and training, with limited integration of TBAs. In all three countries, management of obstetric emergencies was a training priority for RNs, and identification of danger signs was a priority for CHWs and TBAs. Training priorities for auxiliary nurses varied widely across the three countries and included health promotion, preconception and prenatal care, and obstetric emergencies. There was also a wide range in the total number of HRH across the three countries. Conclusions Reliance on health workers with low levels of training is concerning but can be mitigated through in-service training. Training priorities are consistent with the major causes of maternal mortality, and Latin America and Caribbean region training programs show promise for improving quality of care. In the long term, planning for maternal care HRH should seek to increase the concentration of health professionals that are more highly skilled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J Brandt
- Human Resources for Health Unit, Health Systems and Services Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Samantha Brown
- Human Resources for Health Unit, Health Systems and Services Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Silvia Helena De Bortoli Cassiani
- Human Resources for Health Unit, Health Systems and Services Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Fernando Antonio Menezes da Silva
- Human Resources for Health Unit, Health Systems and Services Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
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Datiko DG, Bunte EM, Birrie GB, Kea AZ, Steege R, Taegtmeyer M, Kumar MB, Kok MC. Community participation and maternal health service utilization: lessons from the health extension programme in rural southern Ethiopia. JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.29392/joghr.3.e2019027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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Chalise B, Chalise M, Bista B, Pandey AR, Thapa S. Correlates of continuum of maternal health services among Nepalese women: Evidence from Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215613. [PMID: 31002686 PMCID: PMC6474612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuum of Care (CoC) is an essential strategy to prevent maternal and child deaths where health services are arranged in a pathway throughout pregnancy, childbirth and after delivery. However, CoC is still a challenge in Nepal. This study aimed to investigate the correlates of CoC from pregnancy to the postnatal period in Nepalese women aged 15 to 49 years. Secondary analysis was performed on the data from Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. This led to a sample size of 2086 women who had a live birth within two years preceding the survey. We constructed three outcome models and conducted multivariable logistic regression, to assess socio-economic and demographic correlates of CoC from pregnancy to childbirth to postnatal period. Overall, 41% of the women received Antenatal Care (ANC), delivery from Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) as well as the Postnatal Care (PNC) during their most recent birth. Women from rural areas (aOR 0.25, 95%CI: 0.18, 0.36) had reduced odds of receiving CoC while women belonging to advantaged ethnic group (aOR 1.61, 95%CI: 1.18 2.19), from middle wealth status (aOR 2.56, 95%CI: 1.68, 3.91) and upper (aOR 4.50, 95%CI: 3.07, 6.59) wealth status, and women having access to media (aOR 1.76, 95%CI: 1.31, 2.37) had higher odds of receiving CoC from pregnancy to postnatal period. Having more than two births reduced the odds of CoC by 30% (aOR 0.70, 95%CI: 0.50, 0.98). These factors were also significantly associated with ANC services and the continuum from ANC to delivery SBA. The findings suggest that the majority of Nepalese women lack a continuity of care during their pregnancy and childbirth, and several socioeconomic factors affect the spectrum of CoC. Efforts to improve maternal health services utilization in a continuum require strategies that remove demand and supply barriers of health care utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binaya Chalise
- Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
- * E-mail:
| | - Mala Chalise
- Nepal Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | | | - Subash Thapa
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Scott S, D’Alessandro U, Kendall L, Bradley J, Bojang K, Correa S, Njie F, Tinto H, Traore-Coulibaly M, Natama HM, Traoré O, Valea I, Nahum A, Ahounou D, Bohissou F, Sondjo G, Agbowai C, Mens P, Ruizendaal E, Schallig H, Dierickx S, Grietens KP, Duval L, Conteh L, Drabo M, Guth J, Pagnoni F. Community-based Malaria Screening and Treatment for Pregnant Women Receiving Standard Intermittent Preventive Treatment With Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine: A Multicenter (The Gambia, Burkina Faso, and Benin) Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 68:586-596. [PMID: 29961848 PMCID: PMC6355825 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We investigated whether adding community scheduled malaria screening and treatment (CSST) with artemether-lumefantrine by community health workers (CHWs) to standard intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) would improve maternal and infant health. Methods In this 2-arm cluster-randomized, controlled trial, villages in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, and Benin were randomized to receive CSST plus IPTp-SP or IPTp-SP alone. CHWs in the intervention arm performed monthly CSST during pregnancy. At each contact, filter paper and blood slides were collected, and at delivery, a placental biopsy was collected. Primary and secondary endpoints were the prevalence of placental malaria, maternal anemia, maternal peripheral infection, low birth weight, antenatal clinic (ANC) attendance, and IPTp-SP coverage. Results Malaria infection was detected at least once for 3.8% women in The Gambia, 16.9% in Benin, and 31.6% in Burkina Faso. There was no difference between study arms in terms of placenta malaria after adjusting for birth season, parity, and IPTp-SP doses (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06 [95% confidence interval, .78-1.44]; P = .72). No difference between the study arms was found for peripheral maternal infection, anemia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. ANC attendance was significantly higher in the intervention arm in Burkina Faso but not in The Gambia and Benin. Increasing number of IPTp-SP doses was associated with a significantly lower risk of placenta malaria, anemia at delivery, and low birth weight. Conclusions Adding CSST to existing IPTp-SP strategies did not reduce malaria in pregnancy. Increasing the number of IPTp-SP doses given during pregnancy is a priority. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01941264; ISRCTN37259296.
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A Program Model Describing a Community-Based Mother and Infant Health Program. Res Theory Nurs Pract 2019; 33:39-57. [PMID: 30796147 DOI: 10.1891/1541-6577.33.1.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The objective of this study was to formulate a MOMS Orange County program model to describe the components and function of a successful community-based maternal and infant health program. METHODS A logic framework was used to guide the development of the MOMS program model. Twenty-five MOMS staff members were interviewed; MOMS documents and existing research literature were reviewed. Content analyses were used to identify themes of interviews and the review guide was used to summarize the documents. RESULTS The key components of the MOMS program were identified to formulate a narrative and graphic model. The main elements of this model included: target population (underserved women who have low socioeconomic status and have limited access to healthcare in Orange County); theoretical assumptions (social determinants of health, human ecology, self-efficacy); goals (empower women, enhance health of infants, strengthen families); inputs (funded by public and private sources; 50 staff members); activities (care-coordination home visitation community-center group health education); outputs (the number of home visitations, referrals to medical and/or psychological services, and group health education classes); and outcomes (short-term: healthy pregnancy, birth outcomes, family support; medium-term: postpartum well-being, infant development, family functioning; long-term: women's well-being, children's development, family relationships. Future research should test how this model functions to empirically improve maternal, newborn, child, and family health. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The MOMS program provides a new approach to community-based maternal and infant health interventions focusing on health promotion and disease prevention for underserved families in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
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Melo e Lima TRD, Maia PFCDMD, Valente EP, Vezzini F, Tamburlini G. Effectiveness of an action-oriented educational intervention in ensuring long term improvement of knowledge, attitudes and practices of community health workers in maternal and infant health: a randomized controlled study. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2018; 18:224. [PMID: 30261868 PMCID: PMC6161430 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-018-1332-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The potential role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in improving maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in low and middle-income countries and in disadvantaged communities, is receiving increased attention. Adequate and focused training is among the key requisites for enhancing CHWs performances and research is necessary to identify effective training methods. METHODS A randomized controlled study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a training course in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of CHWs regarding maternal and infant health. Seventy-eight CHWs belonging to Family Health Units in the city of Recife, Brazil were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The intervention group took part in a four-day interactive training course based on an action-oriented guide to perform home visits to pregnant women and their infants throughout pregnancy and infancy until 9 months of age. KAP in intervention group after training and after 1 year were compared to control group and to baseline. RESULTS Fifty-nine CHWs completed all KAP assessments (31 in intervention and 28 in control group). Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. At 1 year from training, the intervention group had higher overall KAP score (120.65 vs. 108.19, p < 0.001) as well as knowledge (47.45 vs. 40.54, p < 0.001), practice (53.45 vs. 49.11, p < 0.001) and attitudes scores (19.74 vs. 18.81, p = 0.047) than the control group. Moreover, at 1 year from training, the intervention group maintained significant improvements in overall KAP score (120.65 vs. 106.55, p < 0.001) as well as in knowledge (45.45 vs. 42.13, p < 0.001), and practice (53.45 vs. 45.29, p < 0.001) scores with respect to baseline. In the control group, overall KAP (106.59 vs. 108.19, p = 0.345) as well as separate knowledge, attitudes and practices scores remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS A four-day interactive training course on action-oriented home visits to pregnant women and infants produced a sustained improvement of CHWs' KAP and may represent a model to ensure retention of acquired competences. TRIAL REGISTRATION RBR-9gchqr . Date registered: July 21, 2018 (Retrospectively registered).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Rebecca de Melo e Lima
- Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Rua dos Coelhos, 300, Boa Vista, Recife, 50070-550 Pernambuco Brazil
- Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), Avenida Mal. Mascarenhas de Morais, 4861, Imbiribeira, Recife, 51150-000 Pernambuco Brazil
| | - Paula Ferdinanda Conceição de Mascena Diniz Maia
- Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Rua dos Coelhos, 300, Boa Vista, Recife, 50070-550 Pernambuco Brazil
- Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), Avenida Mal. Mascarenhas de Morais, 4861, Imbiribeira, Recife, 51150-000 Pernambuco Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Professor Moraes Rêgo, s/n. – Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco Brazil
| | - Emanuelle Pessa Valente
- Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Rua dos Coelhos, 300, Boa Vista, Recife, 50070-550 Pernambuco Brazil
- Università degli studi di Trieste - Piazzale Europa, 1, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesca Vezzini
- Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Rua dos Coelhos, 300, Boa Vista, Recife, 50070-550 Pernambuco Brazil
- Università degli studi di Trieste - Piazzale Europa, 1, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tamburlini
- Università degli studi di Trieste - Piazzale Europa, 1, 34128 Trieste, Italy
- Centro Per la Salute del Bambino - Via De Rin, 19, 34143 Trieste, Italy
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Freeman PA, Schleiff M, Sacks E, Rassekh BM, Gupta S, Perry HB. Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 4. child health findings. J Glob Health 2018; 7:010904. [PMID: 28685042 PMCID: PMC5491948 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.07.010904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This paper assesses the effectiveness of community–based primary health care (CBPHC) in improving child health beyond the neonatal period. Although there has been an accelerated decline in global under–5 mortality since 2000, mortality rates remain high in much of sub–Saharan Africa and in some south Asian countries where under–5 mortality is also decreasing more slowly. Essential interventions for child health at the community level have been identified. Our review aims to contribute further to this knowledge by examining how strong the evidence is and exploring in greater detail what specific interventions and implementation strategies appear to be effective. Methods We reviewed relevant documents from 1950 onwards using a detailed protocol. Peer reviewed documents, reports and books assessing the impact of one or more CBPHC interventions on child health (defined as changes in population coverage of one or more key child survival interventions, nutritional status, serious morbidity or mortality) among children in a geographically defined population was examined for inclusion. Two separate reviews took place of each document followed by an independent consolidated summative review. Data from the latter review were transferred to electronic database for analysis. Results The findings provide strong evidence that the major causes of child mortality in resource–constrained settings can be addressed at the community level largely by engaging communities and supporting community–level workers. For all major categories of interventions (nutritional interventions; control of pneumonia, diarrheal disease and malaria; HIV prevention and treatment; immunizations; integrated management of childhood diseases; and comprehensive primary health care) we have presented randomized controlled trials that have consistently produced statistically significant and operationally important effects. Conclusions This review shows that there is strong evidence of effectiveness for CBPHC implementation of an extensive range of interventions to improve child health and that four major strategies for delivering these interventions are effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Freeman
- Independent consultant, Seattle, Washington, USA.,University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Meike Schleiff
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emma Sacks
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Perry HB, Sacks E, Schleiff M, Kumapley R, Gupta S, Rassekh BM, Freeman PA. Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 6. strategies used by effective projects. J Glob Health 2018; 7:010906. [PMID: 28685044 PMCID: PMC5491945 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.07.010906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As part of our review of the evidence of the effectiveness of community-based primary health care (CBPHC) in improving maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH), we summarize here the common delivery strategies of projects, programs and field research studies (collectively referred to as projects) that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving child mortality. Other articles in this series address specifically the effects of CBPHC on improving MNCH, while this paper explores the specific strategies used. METHODS We screened 12 166 published reports in PubMed of community-based approaches to improving maternal, neonatal and child health in high-mortality, resource-constrained settings from 1950-2015. A total of 700 assessments, including 148 reports from other publicly available sources (mostly unpublished evaluation reports and books) met the criteria for inclusion and were reviewed using a data extraction form. Here we identify and categorize key strategies used in project implementation. RESULTS Six categories of strategies for program implementation were identified, all of which required working in partnership with communities and health systems: (a) program design and evaluation, (b) community collaboration, (c) education for community-level staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and community members, (d) health systems strengthening, (e) use of community-level workers, and (f) intervention delivery. Four specific strategies for intervention delivery were identified: (a) recognition, referral, and (when possible) treatment of serious childhood illness by mothers and/or trained community agents, (b) routine systematic visitation of all homes, (c) facilitator-led participatory women's groups, and (d) health service provision at outreach sites by mobile health teams. CONCLUSIONS The strategies identified here provide useful starting points for program design in strengthening the effectiveness of CBPHC for improving MNCH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emma Sacks
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Meike Schleiff
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Paul A Freeman
- Independent consultant, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Chou VB, Friberg IK, Christian M, Walker N, Perry HB. Expanding the population coverage of evidence-based interventions with community health workers to save the lives of mothers and children: an analysis of potential global impact using the Lives Saved Tool (LiST). J Glob Health 2018; 7:020401. [PMID: 28959436 PMCID: PMC5592116 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.07.020401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence has been accumulating that community health workers (CHWs) providing evidence–based interventions as part of community–based primary health care (CBPHC) can lead to reductions in maternal, neonatal and child mortality. However, investments to strengthen and scale–up CHW programs still remain modest. Methods We used the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) to estimate the number of maternal, neonatal and child deaths and stillbirths that could be prevented if 73 countries effectively scaled up the population coverage of 30 evidence–based interventions that CHWs can deliver in these high–burden countries. We set population coverage targets at 50%, 70%, and 90% and summed the country–level results by region and by all 73 high–burden countries combined. We also estimated which specific interventions would save the most lives. Findings LiST estimates that a total of 3.0 (sensitivity bounds 1.8–4.0), 4.9 (3.1–6.3) and 6.9 (3.7–8.7) million deaths would be prevented between 2016 and 2020 if CBPHC is gradually scaled up during this period and if coverage of key interventions reaches 50%, 70%, and 90% respectively. There would be 14%, 23%, and 32% fewer deaths in the final year compared to a scenario assuming no intervention coverage scale up. The Africa Region would receive the most benefit by far: 58% of the lives saved at 90% coverage would be in this region. The interventions contributing the greatest impact are nutritional interventions during pregnancy, treatment of malaria with artemisinin compounds, oral rehydration solution for childhood diarrhea, hand washing with soap, and oral antibiotics for pneumonia. Conclusions Scaling up CHW programming to increase population–level coverage of life–saving interventions represents a very promising strategy to achieve universal health coverage and end preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030. Numerous practical challenges must be overcome, but there is no better alternative at present. Expanding the coverage of key interventions for maternal nutrition and treatment of childhood illnesses, in particular, may produce the greatest gains. Recognizing the millions of lives of mothers and their young offspring that could be achieved by expanding coverage of evidence–based interventions provided by CHWs and strengthening the CBPHC systems that support them underscores the pressing need for commitment from governments and donors over the next 15 years to prioritize funding, so that robust CHW platforms can be refined, strengthened, and expanded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria B Chou
- Institute for International Programs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Mervyn Christian
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Neff Walker
- Institute for International Programs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Henry B Perry
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Schleiff M, Kumapley R, Freeman PA, Gupta S, Rassekh BM, Perry HB. Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 5. equity effects for neonates and children. J Glob Health 2017; 7:010905. [PMID: 28685043 PMCID: PMC5491949 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.07.010905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The degree to which investments in health programs improve the health of the most disadvantaged segments of the population-where utilization of health services and health status is often the worst-is a growing concern throughout the world. Therefore, questions about the degree to which community-based primary health care (CBPHC) can or actually does improve utilization of health services and the health status of the most disadvantaged children in a population is an important one. METHODS Using a database containing information about the assessment of 548 interventions, projects or programs (referred to collectively as projects) that used CBPHC to improve child health, we extracted evidence related to equity from a sub-set of 42 projects, identified through a multi-step process, that included an equity analysis. We organized our findings conceptually around a logical framework matrix. RESULTS Our analysis indicates that these CBPHC projects, all of which implemented child health interventions, achieved equitable effects. The vast majority (87%) of the 82 equity measurements carried out and reported for these 42 projects demonstrated "pro-equitable" or "equitable" effects, meaning that the project's equity indicator(s) improved to the same degree or more in the disadvantaged segments of the project population as in the more advantaged segments. Most (78%) of the all the measured equity effects were "pro-equitable," meaning that the equity criterion improved more in the most disadvantaged segment of the project population than in the other segments of the population. CONCLUSIONS Based on the observation that CBPHC projects commonly provide services that are readily accessible to the entire project population and that even often reach down to all households, such projects are inherently likely to be more equitable than projects that strengthen services only at facilities, where utilization diminishes greatly with one's distance away. The decentralization of services and attention to and tracking of metrics across all phases of project implementation with attention to the underserved, as can be done in CBPHC projects, are important for reducing inequities in countries with a high burden of child mortality. Strengthening CBPHC is a necessary strategy for reducing inequities in child health and for achieving universal coverage of essential services for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Schleiff
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Paul A Freeman
- Independent consultant, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Black RE, Taylor CE, Arole S, Bang A, Bhutta ZA, Chowdhury AMR, Kirkwood BR, Kureshy N, Lanata CF, Phillips JF, Taylor M, Victora CG, Zhu Z, Perry HB. Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 8. summary and recommendations of the Expert Panel. J Glob Health 2017; 7:010908. [PMID: 28685046 PMCID: PMC5475312 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.07.010908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The contributions that community-based primary health care (CBPHC) and engaging with communities as valued partners can make to the improvement of maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) is not widely appreciated. This unfortunate reality is one of the reasons why so few priority countries failed to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015. This article provides a summary of a series of articles about the effectiveness of CBPHC in improving MNCH and offers recommendations from an Expert Panel for strengthening CBPHC that were formulated in 2008 and have been updated on the basis of more recent evidence. METHODS An Expert Panel convened to guide the review of the effectiveness of community-based primary health care (CBPHC). The Expert Panel met in 2008 in New York City with senior UNICEF staff. In 2016, following the completion of the review, the Panel considered the review's findings and made recommendations. The review consisted of an analysis of 661 unique reports, including 583 peer-reviewed journal articles, 12 books/monographs, 4 book chapters, and 72 reports from the gray literature. The analysis consisted of 700 assessments since 39 were analyzed twice (once for an assessment of improvements in neonatal and/or child health and once for an assessment in maternal health). RESULTS The Expert Panel recommends that CBPHC should be a priority for strengthening health systems, accelerating progress in achieving universal health coverage, and ending preventable child and maternal deaths. The Panel also recommends that expenditures for CBPHC be monitored against expenditures for primary health care facilities and hospitals and reflect the importance of CBPHC for averting mortality. Governments, government health programs, and NGOs should develop health systems that respect and value communities as full partners and work collaboratively with them in building and strengthening CBPHC programs - through engagement with planning, implementation (including the full use of community-level workers), and evaluation. CBPHC programs need to reach every community and household in order to achieve universal coverage of key evidence-based interventions that can be implemented in the community outside of health facilities and assure that those most in need are reached. CONCLUSIONS Stronger CBPHC programs that foster community engagement/empowerment with the implementation of evidence-based interventions will be essential for achieving universal coverage of health services by 2030 (as called for by the Sustainable Development Goals recently adopted by the United Nations), ending preventable child and maternal deaths by 2030 (as called for by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and many countries around the world), and eventually achieving Health for All as envisioned at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978. Stronger CBPHC programs can also create entry points and synergies for expanding the coverage of family planning services as well as for accelerating progress in the detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hypertension, and other chronic diseases. Continued strengthening of CBPHC programs based on rigorous ongoing operations research and evaluation will be required, and this evidence will be needed to guide national and international policies and programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Black
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
| | - Carl E Taylor
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Former Chairperson, Expert Panel (deceased)
| | - Shobha Arole
- Jamkhed Comprehensive Rural Health Project, Jamkhed, Maharashtra, India
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Abhay Bang
- Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, India
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | | | - Betty R Kirkwood
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Nazo Kureshy
- Bureau of Global Health, United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Claudio F Lanata
- Institute of Nutritional Research, Lima, Peru
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - James F Phillips
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Mary Taylor
- Independent Consultant, South Royalton, Vermont, USA
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Cesar G Victora
- Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Zonghan Zhu
- Capital Institute of Pediatrics and China Advisory Center for Child Health, Beijing, China
- Chairperson, Expert Panel
- Member, Expert Panel
| | - Henry B Perry
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Perry HB, Rassekh BM, Gupta S, Wilhelm J, Freeman PA. Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 1. rationale, methods and database description. J Glob Health 2017; 7:010901. [PMID: 28685039 PMCID: PMC5491943 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.07.010901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community-based primary health care (CBPHC) is an approach used by health programs to extend preventive and curative health services beyond health facilities into communities and even down to households. Evidence of the effectiveness of CBPHC in improving maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) has been summarized by others, but our review gives particular attention to not only the effectiveness of specific interventions but also their delivery strategies at the community level along with their equity effects. This is the first article in a series that summarizes and analyzes the assessments of programs, projects, and research studies (referred to collectively as projects) that used CBPHC to improve MNCH in low- and middle-income countries. The review addresses the following questions: (1) What kinds of projects were implemented? (2) What were the outcomes of these projects? (3) What kinds of implementation strategies were used? (4) What are the implications of these findings? METHODS 12 166 reports were identified through a search of articles in the National Library of Medicine database (PubMed). In addition, reports in the gray literature (available online but not published in a peer-reviewed journal) were also reviewed. Reports that describe the implementation of one or more community-based interventions or an integrated project in which an assessment of the effectiveness of the project was carried out qualified for inclusion in the review. Outcome measures that qualified for inclusion in the review were population-based indicators that defined some aspect of health status: changes in population coverage of evidence-based interventions or changes in serious morbidity, in nutritional status, or in mortality. RESULTS 700 assessments qualified for inclusion in the review. Two independent reviewers completed a data extraction form for each assessment. A third reviewer compared the two data extraction forms and resolved any differences. The maternal interventions assessed concerned education about warning signs of pregnancy and safe delivery; promotion and/or provision of antenatal care; promotion and/or provision of safe delivery by a trained birth attendant, screening and treatment for HIV infection and other maternal infections; family planning, and; HIV prevention and treatment. The neonatal and child health interventions that were assessed concerned promotion or provision of good nutrition and immunizations; promotion of healthy household behaviors and appropriate utilization of health services, diagnosis and treatment of acute neonatal and child illness; and provision and/or promotion of safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Two-thirds of assessments (63.0%) were for projects implementing three or fewer interventions in relatively small populations for relatively brief periods; half of the assessments involved fewer than 5000 women or children, and 62.9% of the assessments were for projects lasting less than 3 years. One-quarter (26.6%) of the projects were from three countries in South Asia: India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The number of reports has grown markedly during the past decade. A small number of funders supported most of the assessments, led by the United States Agency for International Development. The reviewers judged the methodology for 90% of the assessments to be adequate. CONCLUSIONS The evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based interventions to improve the health of mothers, neonates, and children younger than 5 years of age is growing rapidly. The database created for this review serves as the basis for a series of articles that follow this one on the effectiveness of CBPHC in improving MNCH published in the Journal of Global Health. These findings, together with recommendations provided by an Expert Panel which has guided this review, that are included as the last paper in this series, will help to provide the rationale for building stronger community-based platforms for delivering evidence-based interventions in high-mortality, resource-constrained settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Jess Wilhelm
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul A Freeman
- Independent consultant, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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