Health Topics
- Initiation of Breastfeeding in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Time-to-Event Analysis
This article uses country-specific data to provide information for stakeholders about delays in breastfeeding, especially for babies born via cesarean delivery, and provide evidence to support skin-to-skin contact to promote early breastfeeding.
- Use of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Pregnancy Prevention Among Ghanaian Women: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey
At least 18% of Ghanaian female contraceptors rely primarily upon a fertility awareness-based method (FABM), and most wish to learn how to improve its effectiveness but are insufficiently supported to do so. Researchers, programmers, and funders should better understand and address FABM users' needs, in commitment to reproductive autonomy and choice.
- New Mixed Methods Approach for Monitoring Community Perceptions of Ebola and Response Efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Red Cross community feedback system enabled rapid collection and analysis of extensive verbal feedback during an Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC. Using this information, Ebola response leaders adapted strategies to address community concerns. In an epidemic, community feedback is critical to ensure that response strategies are accepted and appropriate.
- Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis to Sustain Community-Based Malaria Interventions in Cambodia
Despite the impacts of an unforeseen concomitant disaster such as COVID-19, malaria elimination efforts were able to continue because of successful efforts to build trust, relevance, and connection with communities to promote community health malaria workers' acceptance. With lessons learned from the COVID-19 response, community health workers can be repurposed for broader public health interventions in preparation for future disease outbreaks.
- Real-Time Tracking of COVID-19 Rumors Using Community-Based Methods in Côte d'Ivoire
Addressing rumors is critical for managing and ending a public health emergency. We piloted a system for real-time rumor tracking using community-based collection methods, open-source software, and a rapid coding and visualization process to systematically understand and help actors respond to COVID-19 misinformation in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Institutionalizing a Regional Model for Improving Quality of Newborn Care at Birth Across Hospitals in Eastern Uganda: A 4-Year Story
A locally developed, low-cost package of interventions implemented in a regional network of hospitals resulted in significant reductions in mortality for mothers and newborns as well as the institutionalization of the quality improvement initiative. This work demonstrates that it is possible to achieve the World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund Quality of Care targets in hospitals.
- From Passive Surveillance to Response: Suriname's Efforts to Implement Maternal Death Surveillance and Response
To implement Maternal Death Surveillance and Response successfully in Suriname, recommendations to reduce maternal death should be acted upon. Delineating the roles and responsibilities for action, establishing accountability mechanisms, and influencing stakeholders in a position to act are critical to ensure a response to recommendations to avert maternal mortality.
- Improving Services for HIV-Exposed Infants in Zambia and Cameroon Using a Quality Improvement Collaborative Approach
To bridge the gap between what is known and what is done, quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) enable health programs to rapidly address quality challenges at scale. Two QICs in Cameroon and Zambia improved coverage of early infant HIV testing and initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV-exposed infants. The QIC approach empowers health care workers to design solutions tailored for their specific settings.
- Systematic Process Framework for Conducting Implementation Science Research in Food Fortification Programs
Many challenges still exist to fully scaling up food fortification in lower resource settings. To address this need, a collective group of experts in the fields of food fortification and implementation science developed a systematic process framework to provide a tool for identifying and working through challenges.
- Global Access to Technology-Enhanced Medical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Students in Narrowing the Gap
Althoughsome medical education institutions in high-income countries have the capacity to shift education to eLearning during the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions in low- and middle-income countries might struggle to fully implement it. We argue for medical students to advocate for national and international collaboration in adopting technology-enhanced learning globally.