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Global Health: Science and Practice

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Table of Contents

September 2017 | Volume 5 | Number 3

EDITORIALS

  • Open Access
    Maternal Death Surveillance and Response: A Tall Order for Effectiveness in Resource-Poor Settings
    Marge Koblinsky
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):333-337; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00308

    Most countries with high maternal (and newborn) mortality have very limited resources, overstretched health workers, and relatively weak systems and governance. To make important progress in reducing mortality, therefore, they need to carefully prioritize where to invest effort and funds. Given the demanding requirements to effectively implement the maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) approach, in many settings it makes more sense to focus effort on the known drivers of high mortality, e.g., reducing geographic, financial, and systems barriers to lifesaving maternal and newborn care.

  • Open Access
    Routine Health Facility and Community Information Systems: Creating an Information Use Culture
    Theo Lippeveld
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):338-340; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00319

    Substantial progress has been made to strengthen health information systems, with most efforts focusing on digitization, improving data quality and analysis, and identifying problems. But the ultimate goal is using information to solve problems, which requires building an information use culture over time. How? Human-centered design, role modeling by senior managers in use of data, and incentive-based systems hold considerable promise.

COMMENTARIES

  • Open Access
    Seeking Synchrony Between Family Planning and Immunization: A Week-10 DMPA Start Option for Breastfeeding Mothers
    John Stanback
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):341-344; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00063

    Many mothers initiate DMPA injectables at 6 weeks postpartum, at the time of their baby's first immunization visit. Offering an optional delayed DMPA start at the next (10-week) immunization visit has potential advantages including a reduced follow-up schedule with DMPA visits synchronized with other immunization visits, and, possibly, improved contraceptive and immunization outcomes.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

  • Open Access
    Implementing Maternal Death Surveillance and Response in Kenya: Incremental Progress and Lessons Learned
    Helen Smith, Charles Ameh, Pamela Godia, Judith Maua, Kigen Bartilol, Patrick Amoth, Matthews Mathai and Nynke van den Broek
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):345-354; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00130

    A national coordinating structure was established but encountered significant challenges including: (1) a low number of estimated maternal deaths identified that only included some occurring within facilities, (2) only half of those identified were reviewed, (3) reviewers had difficulties assessing the cause of death largely because of limited documentation in clinical records; and (4) resulting actions were limited. Successful implementation will require addressing many issues, including building support for the process lower down in the health system.

  • Open Access
    Using Data to Improve Programs: Assessment of a Data Quality and Use Intervention Package for Integrated Community Case Management in Malawi
    Elizabeth Hazel, Emmanuel Chimbalanga, Tiyese Chimuna, Humphreys Nsona, Angella Mtimuni, Ernest Kaludzu, Kate Gilroy and Tanya Guenther
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):355-366; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00103

    Use of simple wall charts by community and facility health workers to collect and visualize data helped inform data-based decision making for community health education activities, tracking stock-outs, staffing decisions, and other programming issues. Since intervention scale-up, however, use of the wall chart has dropped, demonstrating need for continued investment in supportive supervision.

  • Open Access
    National Assessment of Data Quality and Associated Systems-Level Factors in Malawi
    Richael O'Hagan, Melissa A Marx, Karen E Finnegan, Patrick Naphini, Kumbukani Ng'ambi, Kingsley Laija, Emily Wilson, Lois Park, Sautso Wachepa, Joseph Smith, Lewis Gombwa, Amos Misomali, Tiope Mleme and Simeon Yosefe
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):367-381; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00177

    Nearly all facility registers were available and complete. But accuracy varied, with antenatal care and HIV testing and counseling performing the best and family planning and acute respiratory infections data less well. Most facilities visibly displayed routine health data and most hospitals and district health offices had staff trained in health management information systems, but training was lacking at the facility level as were routine data quality checks and regular supervision.

  • Open Access
    Family Planning in the Context of Latin America's Universal Health Coverage Agenda
    Thomas Fagan, Arin Dutta, James Rosen, Agathe Olivetti and Kate Klein
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):382-398; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00057

    Latin American countries have expanded family planning along with universal health coverage (UHC). Leveraging UHC-oriented schemes to increase family planning program coverage, equity, and financing requires:

    • Prioritizing poor and indigenous populations

    • Including family planning services in all benefits packages

    • Ensuring sufficient supply of commodities and human resources to avoid stock-outs and implicit rationing

    • Reducing nonfinancial barriers to access

  • Open Access
    Upgrading Supply Chain Management Systems to Improve Availability of Medicines in Tanzania: Evaluation of Performance and Cost Effects
    Marasi Mwencha, James E Rosen, Cary Spisak, Noel Watson, Noela Kisoka and Happiness Mberesero
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):399-411; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00395

    Investments in a national logistics management unit and electronic logistics management information system resulted in better data use and improvements in some, but not all, management practices. After 1 year, key improvements included reduced stock-out rates, stock-out duration, and expiry rates. Although the upgraded systems were not inexpensive, they contributed to greater system efficiency and generated modest savings that defrayed much of the investment and maintenance costs.

  • Open Access
    Large-Scale Evaluation of Quality of Care in 6 Countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia Using Clinical Performance and Value Vignettes
    John W Peabody, Lisa DeMaria, Owen Smith, Angela Hoth, Edmond Dragoti and Jeff Luck
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):412-429; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00044

    When providers in 6 different countries were asked how they would care for the same patient, there was wide variation within and between countries. Nevertheless, 11% of the physicians scored over 80%, suggesting good quality of care is possible even with resource constraints. Use of validated clinical vignettes, which can be applied affordably at scale, could help improve quality of services in low- and middle-income countries.

  • Open Access
    Geographic Access Modeling of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care in Kigoma Region, Tanzania: Transportation Schemes and Programmatic Implications
    Yi No Chen, Michelle M Schmitz, Florina Serbanescu, Michelle M Dynes, Godson Maro and Michael R Kramer
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):430-445; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00110

    32% of estimated live births in the region may not be able to reach emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) services within 2 hours in dry season, regardless of the type of transportation available. However, bicycles, motorcycles, and cars provide a significant increase in geographic accessibility in some areas. Achieving good access may require upgrading non-EmONC facilities to EmONC facilities in some districts while incorporating bicycles and motorcycles into the health transportation strategy in others.

  • Open Access
    Increasing Contraceptive Access for Hard-to-Reach Populations With Vouchers and Social Franchising in Uganda
    Benjamin Bellows, Anna Mackay, Antonia Dingle, Richard Tuyiragize, William Nnyombi and Aisha Dasgupta
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):446-455; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00065

    Between 2011 and 2014, the program provided more than 330,000 family planning services, mostly to rural women in the informal sector with little or no education. 70% of the voucher clients chose an implant and 25% an intrauterine device.

  • Open Access
    Overcoming Operational Challenges to Ebola Case Investigation in Sierra Leone
    Samuel T Boland, Erin Polich, Allison Connolly, Adam Hoar, Tom Sesay and Anh-Minh A Tran
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):456-467; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00126

    Deficiencies in transportation and communication, low frontline staff morale, and mistrust among communities, among other operational challenges, greatly limited Ebola case investigation in Sierra Leone. Recommendations for future outbreaks: (1) timely compensation for frontline staff, (2) context-appropriate transportation and communication resources, (3) systematic data collection, storage, and retrieval systems, (4) sound linkages between frontline staff and communities, (5) daily meetings between frontline staff and epidemiologists, (6) clear and appropriate operational chain of command, and (7) political and funding support to operational agencies.

  • Open Access
    From Albania to Zimbabwe: Surveying 10 Years of Summer Field Experiences at the Rollins School of Public Health
    Evelyn L Howatt Donahoe, Roger W Rochat, Deborah McFarland and Carlos del Rio
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):468-475; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00262

    Since 1985, students from the Rollins School of Public Health have worked for more than 300 organizations in 84 countries. The students indicated key benefits of applying public health course work in real-world settings and gaining skills, including cultural competency, leadership, teamwork, communication, and program implementation. They also experienced challenges related to health, safety, and support.

FIELD ACTION REPORTS

  • Open Access
    The Tobacco-Free Village Program: Helping Rural Areas Implement and Achieve Goals of Tobacco Control Policies in India
    Nilesh Chatterjee, Deepak Patil, Rajashree Kadam and Genevie Fernandes
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):476-485; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00064

    Tobacco control and prevention in rural areas are possible as demonstrated by a community-driven tobacco-free village program in India. Success factors included community ownership with supportive program guidance, motivated and committed local leaders, collaboration with grassroots organizations, rewards and sanctions to establish new social norms, and provision of other income-generating options for vendors who sell tobacco. While the program required time and dedicated effort and was not successful in all villages, it holds promise for helping to achieve the goals of tobacco control policies, especially in resource-scarce settings.

  • Open Access
    A Mobile-Based Community Health Management Information System for Community Health Workers and Their Supervisors in 2 Districts of Zambia
    Godfrey Biemba, Boniface Chiluba, Kojo Yeboah-Antwi, Vichaels Silavwe, Karsten Lunze, Rodgers K Mwale, Scott Russpatrick and Davidson H Hamer
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):486-494; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00275

    Using simple-feature mobile phones, CHWs sent weekly reports on disease caseloads and commodities consumed, ordered drugs and supplies, and sent pre-referral notices to health centers. Supervisors provided feedback to CHWs on referred patient outcomes and received monthly SMS reminders to set up mentoring sessions with the CHWs. Scale-up limitations include: (1) staff shortages at health centers to supervise the CHWs, (2) need for ongoing technical support to troubleshoot challenges with mobile phones and software, and (3) recurring costs for data bundles.

  • Open Access
    Community-Based Noncommunicable Disease Care for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
    Stephen Sethi, Rebecka Jonsson, Rony Skaff and Frank Tyler
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):495-506; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00043

    The high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among Syrian refugees in Lebanon required a shift in the humanitarian response, from direct care provided through mobile medical clinics to community-based primary health care and health promotion provided through trained refugee outreach volunteers (ROVs). During the first 2 months after training, these ROVs conducted 753 blood pressure monitoring visits and 657 blood glucose checks; monitored medication adherence among 387 patients with NCDs; referred 293 refugees to the local primary health care facility for additional care; and provided 346 targeted health education messages.

  • Open Access
    Infant Feeding Policy and Programming During the 2014–2015 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Sierra Leone
    Amelia Brandt, Óscar Serrano Oria, Mustapha Kallon and Alessandra N. Bazzano
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):507-515; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00387

    Policies on breastfeeding and possible mother-to-child transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) during the outbreak evolved depending on public health priorities and the evidence available at that particular time. To improve responses to future outbreaks, research on vertical transmission of EVD should be prioritized; infant and young child feeding experts should be integrated into the outbreak response; and a digital repository of national policies and associated messages should be created.

SHORT REPORT

  • Open Access
    Migration Experiences and Reported Sexual Behavior Among Young, Unmarried Female Migrants in Changzhou, China
    Zhanhong Zong, Wenjian Yang, Xiaoming Sun, Jingshu Mao, Xingyu Shu and Norman Hearst
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):516-524; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00068

    30% reported being sexually experienced, but only 38% reported using contraception at first sex and 58% consistently over the past year, leading to many unintended pregnancies and abortions. These findings document an unmet need for reproductive health education and services for young, unmarried female migrants in urban China.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

  • Open Access
    The Collapse of the Price of Oil and the Importance of Fair Market Competition and Optimizing Public and Private Resources: Assessing Angola's Contraceptive Market Landscape
    Denise L Harrison
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):525-527; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00165
  • Open Access
    Putting Consumers at the Center in a Context of Limited Choice and Availability of Modern Contraception in Luanda, Angola. Authors' Response to “Assessing Angola's Contraceptive Market Landscape”
    Benjamin Nieto-Andrade, Eva Fidel, Rebecca Simmons, Dana Sievers, Anya Fedorova, Suzanne Bell, Karen Weidert and Ndola Prata
    Global Health: Science and Practice September 2017, 5(3):528-529; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00295
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In this issue

Global Health: Science and Practice: 5 (3)
Global Health: Science and Practice
Vol. 5, No. 3
September 27, 2017
  • Table of Contents
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Issue highlights

  • Maternal Death Surveillance and Response: A Tall Order for Effectiveness in Resource-Poor Settings
  • Family Planning in the Context of Latin America's Universal Health Coverage Agenda
  • Increasing Contraceptive Access for Hard-to-Reach Populations With Vouchers and Social Franchising in Uganda
  • The Tobacco-Free Village Program: Helping Rural Areas Implement and Achieve Goals of Tobacco Control Policies in India
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Implementation of Maternal and Newborn Health Mobile Phone E-Cohorts to Track Longitudinal Care Quality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Documenting Community Health Worker Compensation Schemes and Their Perceived Effectiveness in Seven sub-Saharan African Countries: A Qualitative Study
Interventions to Address the Health and Well-Being of Married Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Using Vignettes to Gain Insights Into Social Norms Related to Voluntary Family Planning and Gender-Based Violence in South Sudan
Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

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