Maternity waiting homes as a costâ effective intervention in rural Liberia

ObjectiveTo analyze the costâ effectiveness of maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in rural Liberia by examining the cost per life saved and economic effect of MWHs on maternal mortality.MethodsA costâ effectiveness analysis was used to evaluate costs and economic effect of MWHs on maternal mortality in rural Liberia to guide future resource allocation. A secondary data analysis was performed based on a prior quasiâ experimental cohort study of 10 rural primary healthcare facilities, five with a MWH and five without a MWH, that took place from October 30, 2010 to February 28, 2015.ResultsCalculations signified a low cost per year of life saved at MWHs in a rural district in Liberia. Total populationâ adjusted number of women’s lives saved over 3 years was 6.25.ConclusionWhile initial costs were considerable, over a period of 10 or more years MWHs could be a costâ effective and affordable strategy to reduce maternal mortality rates in Liberia. Discussion of the scaling up of MWH interventions for improving maternal outcomes in Liberia and other lowâ and middleâ income countries is justified. Findings can be used to advocate for policy changes to increase the apportionment of resources for building more MWHs in low resource settings.Maternity waiting homes are an affordable and highly costâ effective strategy to decrease maternal mortality in Liberia.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149550/1/ijgo12830.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149550/2/ijgo12830_am.pd

Lessons learnt from a scientific peer-review training programme designed to support research capacity and professional development in a global community

High-quality peer-reviewer training open to researchers across the globe has the potential to improve the published literature, however, this type of training is not widely available. In this paper, we describe an online peer-reviewer training programme, highlight its effectiveness in building peer review and writing skills, and discuss challenges and lessons learnt. This training programme, open to researchers across the globe, acquaints participants with challenges to and inequities in publishing and educates them about writing effective peer reviews. A focal point is how to provide specific and respectful feedback to help authors get accepted for peer review at an academic journal. Forty-nine participants from or residing in six continents completed the training. All programme evaluation respondents agreed that the orientation helped them gain a better understanding of their role as a peer reviewer at Pre-Publication Support Service. Most agreed that the training was helpful in improving their peer-review skills, and that the training was helpful in improving their writing skills. Participants wanted more networking and collaboration opportunities with other peer reviewers, inclusion of a qualitatively researched example paper and improved communication about the required time commitment. Our online programme with multiple time options was geographically inclusive but internet connectivity was challenging for some participants. Peer-reviewer training programmes can help researchers build their peer review and writing skills and enhance participants’ understanding of disparities in publishing. Integrating a geographically diverse group of researchers has the potential to enrich the discussions and learning in such a programme

Stigma associated With sickle cell disease in Kumasi, Ghana

Introduction: People with sickle cell disease (SCD) often face stigmatization in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa. Research is needed to understand whether it is necessary to design an SCD stigma reduction program in the Ghanaian setting. The aim of this study was to explore the perception of stigmatization for adults with SCD in Kumasi, Ghana. Methodology: Using in-depth qualitative interviews, researchers conducted a phenomenological study to investigate the perception of stigmatization for people with SCD in Kumasi, Ghana. Snowball and purposive sampling was used to identify the participants. Results: Participants (n = 12) were mostly female, Akan, and Christian. Researchers categorized three main themes: (a) Feelings of social isolation, (b) Fear of disclosure, and (c) Bullying about physical appearance. Discussion: The findings highlight the need to develop effective strategies to counteract stigma. Transcultural health care providers can implement stigma reduction interventions that might be applicable throughout Africa where findings are likely to resonate with patients with SCD

Caregiver Perception of Sickle Cell Disease Stigma in Ghana: An Ecological Approach

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) stigma is a major community health issue. The challenges of caring for someone with SCD can be overwhelming. We explored stigma and related factors for caregivers of pediatric patients with SCD in Kumasi, Ghana. Method: Guided by the Ecological Systems Theory, we used indepth interviews with a semistructured guide to learn about the perception of stigmatization for Ghanaian caregivers of patients with SCD. Results: Overall, participants were knowledgeable about SCD. We identified three themes, including (1) blame for SCD, (2) public misconception about SCD, and (3) shame for the financial burden of SCD. Discussion: Findings demonstrate the need to design an SCD stigma reduction program for caregivers, families, and the community. Providers need to consider SCD stigma and interaction with multiple ecological levels, including the family, community, health care system, culture, and health policy in Ghana. Findings can be used as a catalyst to explore the reduction of stigmatization in other sub-Saharan countries

High Prevalence of Low Birth Weight Babies Born to Pregnant Women Referred to a District Hospital in Rural Zambia

This is the accepted manuscript version of the work published in its final form as Buser, J. M., Boyd, C. J., Moyer, C. A., Zulu, D., Ngoma-Hazemba, A., Jones, A. D., & Lori, J. R. (2021). High Prevalence of Low Birth Weight Babies Born to Pregnant Women Referred to a District Hospital in Rural Zambia. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25(8), 1182-1186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03190-8 Deposited by shareyourpaper.org and openaccessbutton.org. We've taken reasonable steps to ensure this content doesn't violate copyright. However, if you think it does you can request a takedown by emailing [email protected]

How maternity waiting home use influences attendance of antenatal and postnatal care.

As highlighted in the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, access to quality nursing and midwifery care is essential to promote maternal-newborn health and improve survival. One intervention aimed at improving maternal-newborn health and reducing underutilization of pregnancy services is the construction of maternity waiting homes (MWHs). The purpose of this study was to assess whether there was a significant change in antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) attendance, family planning use, and vaccination rates before and after implementation of the Core MWH Model in rural Zambia. A quasi-experimental controlled before-and-after design was used to evaluate the impact of the Core MWH Model by assessing associations between ANC and PNC attendance, family planning use, and vaccination rates for mothers who gave birth to a child in the past 13 months. Twenty health care facilities received the Core MWH Model and 20 were identified as comparison facilities. Before-and-after community surveys were carried out. Multivariable logistic regression were used to assess the association between Core MWH Model use and ANC and PNC attendance. The total sample includes 4711 mothers. Mothers who used the Core MWH Model had better ANC and PNC attendance, family planning use, and vaccination rates than mothers who did not use a MWH. All mothers appeared to fare better across these outcomes at endline. We found an association between Core MWH Model use and better ANC and PNC attendance, family planning use, and newborn vaccination outcomes. Maternity waiting homes may serve as a catalyst to improve use of facility services for vulnerable mothers

SEARCH STRATEGIES | Reproductive health research capacity strengthening programs in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review

A comprehensive search of the literature published between January 2011 and August 2023 was conducted by a health sciences informationist (GKR). Discrete searches were conducted in nine databases: MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase via Elsevier, Scopus, CINAHL via Ebsco, Web of Science, PsycINFO via Ebsco, Women's Studies International via Ebsco, CABI Global Health and Global Index Medicus. No restrictions on language were applied. The original literature search was implemented in November 2021. A search update was conducted in August 2023. Search strategies were constructed by combining search terms representing three search concepts: (1) sexual and reproductive health; (2) research strengthening or capacity building; and (3) low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) or low-resourced regions. The third concept described above was represented by variations on the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) LMIC search filter (v.4) [1] in all databases except for Embase, CABI Global Health, and Global Index Medicus. The University of North Carolina's Developing Country / Low-Middle Income Searches filter (2019 update) [2] was used in Embase. No LMIC search filters were used in CABI Global Health or in Global Index Medicus. The World Bank [3] list of country income status was used as a criterion to identify a country as an LMIC. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 1. The Cochrane Collaboration. LMIC Filters [Internet]. [cited 2022 May 23]. Available from: https://epoc.cochrane.org/lmic-filters ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2. University of North Carolina University Libraries. Public Health: Popular search strategies [Internet]. [cited 2022 May 23]. Available from: https://guides.lib.unc.edu/c.php?g=8369&p=784120 ___________________________________________________________________________________ 3. World Bank. World Bank Country and Lending Groups [Internet]. [cited 2022 May 23]. Available from: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groupshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/178180/1/11_18_2021_SEARCH STRATEGIES.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/178180/2/08_21_2023_SEARCH UPDATE_SEARCH STRATEGIES.pdf-1Description of 11_18_2021_SEARCH STRATEGIES.pdf : LITERATURE SEARCH STRATEGIES_18_NOV_2021Description of 08_21_2023_SEARCH UPDATE_SEARCH STRATEGIES.pdf : LITERATURE SEARCH STRATEGIES_SEARCH UPDATE_21_AUG_2023SEL