Mine Risk Education Project of UNICEF: A Formative Evaluation

Two decades of war in Sri Lanka have given rise to the problem of landmines and unexploded ordnances threatening the lives of civilians in the Northeast. The United Nations and government of Sri Lanka initiated a mine action programme, which includes a Mine Risk Education Programme. Supported by UNICEF, it has been implemented since 1997 in the Jaffna District and Vanni region in close co-ordination with UNDP. Today, MRE has reached a professional standard, using tried and tested tools to promote mine-safe behaviour. This formative evaluation study assesses the effect of MRE on the beneficiary communities. Field research was carried out in a total of six Divisional Secretary divisions. The evaluation involved the following procedures: Review of project documents and secondary data Key informant interviews Content analysis of selected educational material used in mine risk education A household survey covering a sample of 360 households The study discusses the findings, and concludes that MRE either through mass or small media, has been instrumental in forming information channels among beneficiaries. The evaluation also identified a few challenges affecting the current MRE activities and some possible remedial action

UNICEF 2012 Annual Report

2012 was a year of recognizing results for children. As the Millennium Development Goals deadline approaches, we have cause to celebrate declining poverty rates, the near eradication of polio, increased immunizations, more girls attending school, improved access to clean water and nutrition, and more children surviving and thriving beyond their fifth birthdays than ever before. But results are no excuse for rest. Too many children continue to struggle, clinging to the lowest rungs of the development ladder: a boy missing out on a vaccination because he lives in a remote, hard-to-reach community; a girl denied her rightful place in the classroom; parents trapped in conflict zones, desperate for food, water and medicine for their children; and millions of children socially excluded because of their gender or ethnicity, or because they have a disability. These children must be reached. In 2012, we set out to reach more of them by targeting our programmes all the more on these children, streamlining our operations and harnessing innovations in order to deliver greater, more cost-effective results. We celebrated the launch of Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed, an exciting new chapter in the global movement to end preventable child deaths. By the end of 2012, 168 governments and more than 400 representatives from civil society and faith-based organizations pledged to redouble efforts to give every child the best possible start in life. Humanitarian emergencies continued to dominate headlines – and much of our organization’s attention. In all, UNICEF and its partners responded to 286 humanitarian situations in 79 countries. For example, we provided almost 19 million people with access to clean water, and in the Sahel, treated more than 920,000 children under the age of five who were suffering from severe acute malnutrition. To help the children and families caught up in the horrific conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, UNICEF worked with partners there and in nearby countries to supply vaccines to more than 1.4 million children against measles, to deliver winter provisions, medicines and non-food items to more than 263,000 people, and to provide an uninterrupted education for some 79,000 affected children. This assistance included the growing number of refugees beyond the country’s borders. We also brought increased accountability and transparency to our business functions by joining the International Aid Transparency Initiative and expanding public disclosure of internal audit reports, evaluations and country office annual reports. After a thorough review of results achieved and a vigorous debate around future goals, we are finishing a new strategic plan for 2014–2017 that places equity for children at its centre. Our goal is to reach every child, everywhere, no matter how distant or remote, no matter what barriers stand in the way. We will not reach this goal without your support. Despite these challenging economic times, you have given our work an unmistakably clear vote of confidence through increased financial support. Your dedication to UNICEF’s mission is a critical investment in the future of the world’s children. An investment we must make, for their sake and ours

External Evaluation of UNICEF support to Rehabilitation/Reintegration of Mine/UXO Victims and Disabled People

Support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of mine victims and disabled people provided through the Child Protection Programme is well targeted and guided by an appropriately informed and considered strategy. The choice of projects covers several of the Programme\u27s key focal areas including health and education, policy and mainstreaming of disability into humanitarian responses. Current partners provide the program good geographic coverage, effective use of existing resources and constructive engagement of government and community stakeholders. There is ample evidence that support from UNICEF\u27s Child Protection Programme has played a significant role in reducing discrimination and promoting the full development and inclusion of children with disabilities. Based on the findings of the evaluation, there does not appear to be any need for major shift in the direction of programming; rather refinement of existing strategies and adjustments in the way the Child Protection Programme works with other programs and supported partners. The evaluation recommends the Programme adopt a series of guiding principles and indicative strategies that will not only help better define its strategic framework, but provide clearer guidance to potential partners as to what is expected in terms of project design. Equally, resolving issues with how country level programming is translated into complementary and coordinated responses on the ground will significantly enhance program impact and achievement of UNICEF\u27s Child Protection Programme stated objectives. Over the next three to five years the program should focus on refining and further systematizing current strategies. It should also continue to fund partner efforts to build district and community level capacity and complete the transition of project activities to local players. As these transitions progress, levels of support needed by existing partners should decrease, allowing the Child Protection Programme to engage new projects. Most of the change required therefore rests in the Programme adopting a more strategic focus in the support it offers partners, arguing for greater flexibility in funding, and for the immediate future maintaining adequate levels of funding to current partners in order to achieve the successful evolution and localization of existing projects

United Nations Children’s Fund

The material in this publication has been commissioned by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The contents do not necessarily reflect the policies or the views of UNICEF. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply on the part of UNICEF the expression of any opinion whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country or territory, or of its authorities or the delimitation of its frontiers. The text has not been edited to official publication standards and UNICEF accepts no responsibility for errors. Any part of this publication may be freely reproduced with the appropriate acknowledgement. For more information, please contac

Socio-economic factors associated with delivery assisted by traditional birth attendants in Iraq, 2000

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are likely to deliver lower quality maternity care compared to professional health workers. It is important to characterize women who are assisted by TBAs in order to design interventions specific to such groups. We thus conducted a study to assess if socio-economic status and demographic factors are associated with having childbirth supervised by traditional birth attendants in Iraq.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Iraqi Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data for 2000 were used. We estimated frequencies and proportions of having been delivered by a traditional birth attendant and other social characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between having been delivered by a TBA and wealth, area of residence (urban versus rural), parity, maternal education and age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Altogether 22,980 women participated in the survey, and of these women, 2873 had delivery information and whether they were assisted by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) or not during delivery. About 1 in 5 women (26.9%) had been assisted by TBAs. Compared to women of age 35 years or more, women of age 25–34 years were 22% (AOR = 1.22, 95%CI [1.08, 1.39]) more likely to be assisted by TBAs during delivery. Women who had no formal education were 42% (AOR = 1.42, 95%CI [1.22, 1.65]) more likely to be delivered by TBAs compared to those who had attained secondary or higher level of education. Women in the poorest wealth quintile were 2.52 (AOR = 2.52, 95%CI [2.14, 2.98]) more likely to be delivered by TBAs compared to those in the richest quintile. Compared to women who had 7 or more children, those who had 1 or 2 were 28% (AOR = 0.72, 95%CI [0.59, 0.87]) less likely to be delivered by TBAs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings from this study indicate that having delivery supervised by traditional birth attendants was associated with young maternal age, low education, and being poor. Meanwhile women having 1 or 2 children were less likely to be delivered by TBAs. These factors should be considered in the design of interventions to reduce the rate of deliveries assisted by TBAs in favour of professional midwives, and consequently reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates and other adverse events.</p

Achieving gender equality in learning outcomes: Evidence from a non-formal education program in Bangladesh

Non-formal education (NFE) programs have been a long standing approach to educating marginalized children, especially girls, across the developing world. Though such programs provide girls expanded access to learning opportunities, the evidence of whether enhanced access actually leads girls to achieve on par with boys remains limited. I analyze the academic achievement of girls relative to boys in a sample of 1,203 children participating in a NFE program in rural Bangladesh, known as SHIKHON which means “learning” in Bengali. I find strong correlational evidence that gender is not significantly associated with achievement; on average, girls achieve on par with boys across four subject areas including literacy (English and Bangla), numeracy, science and social science

Who is to blame? Perspectives of caregivers on barriers to accessing healthcare for the under-fives in Butere District, Western Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kenya, like many developing nations, continues to experience high childhood mortality in spite of the many efforts put in place by governments and international bodies to curb it. This study sought to investigate the barriers to accessing healthcare services for children aged less than five years in Butere District, a rural district experiencing high rates of mortality and morbidity despite having relatively better conditions for child survival.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Exit interviews were conducted among caregivers seeking healthcare for their children in mid 2007 in all the 6 public health facilities. Additionally, views from caregivers in the community, health workers and district health managers were sought through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three hundred and ninety-seven respondents were surveyed in exit interviews while 45 respondents participated in FGDs and KIs. Some practices by caregivers including early onset of child bearing, early supplementation, and utilization of traditional healers were thought to increase the risk of mortality and morbidity, although reported rates of mosquito net utilization and immunization coverage were high. The healthcare system posed barriers to access of healthcare for the under fives, through long waiting time, lack of drugs and poor services, incompetence and perceived poor attitudes of the health workers. FGDs also revealed wide-spread concerns and misconceptions about health care among the caregivers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Caregivers' actions were thought to influence children's progression to illness or health while the healthcare delivery system posed recurrent barriers to the accessing of healthcare for the under-fives. Actions on both fronts are necessary to reduce childhood mortality.</p

Global development and diffusion of outcome evaluation research for interpersonal and self-directed violence prevention from 2007 to 2013: A systematic review

© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Through a global review, we identified gaps in the geographical distribution of violence prevention evidence outcome evaluation studies and the types of violence addressed. Systematic literature searches identified 355 articles published between 2007 and 2013 that evaluated programs to prevent interpersonal or self-directed violence; focused on universal or selected populations; and reported outcomes measuring violence or closely related risk factors. The number of studies identified increased annually from 2008 (n = 37), reaching 64 in 2013. Over half (n = 203) of all studies focused on youth violence yet only one on elder maltreatment. Study characteristics varied by year and violence type. Only 9.3% of all studies had been conducted in LMICs. These studies were less likely than those in high income countries (HICs) to have tested established interventions yet more likely to involve international collaboration. Evaluation studies successfully established in LMIC had often capitalized on other major regional priorities (e.g. HIV). Relationships between violence and social determinants, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and even economic prosperity should be explored as mechanisms to increase the global reach of violence prevention research. Results should inform future research strategies and provide a baseline for measuring progress in developing the violence prevention evidence-base, especially in LMICs

Analysis of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Service utilization in Ethiopia: 2006-2010

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Although progressive improvements have been made in the coverage and quality of prevention of HIV/AIDS mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services in Ethiopia, the national coverage remained persistently low. Analysis of the cascaded PMTCT services can reveal the advancements made and the biggest hurdles faced during implementation.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To examine the progresses and unaddressed needs in access and utilization of PMTCT services in Ethiopia from 2006 to 2010 thereby developing best-fit regression models to predict the values of key PMTCT indicators at critical future points.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five-year national level PMTCT data were analyzed in a cascaded manner. Five levels of analysis were used for ten major PMTCT indicators. These included description of progress made, assessment of unaddressed needs, developing best-fit models, prediction for future points and estimation using constant prevalence. Findings were presented using numerical and graphic summaries.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on the current trend, Ethiopia could achieve universal ANC coverage by 2015. The prevalence of HIV at PMTCT sites has shown a four-fold decrease during the five-year period. This study has found that only 53% of known HIV-positive mothers and 48% of known HIV-exposed infants have received ARV prophylaxis. Based on assumption of constant HIV prevalence, the estimated ARV coverage was found to be 11.6% for HIV positive mothers and 8.4% for their babies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There has been a remarkable improvement in the potential coverage of PMTCT services due to rapid increase in the number of PMTCT service outlets. However, the actual coverage remained low. Integration of PMTCT services with grassroots level health systems could unravel the problem.</p