Latest Articles
- Breaking new ground in family planning communication
The Urban Reproductive Health Initiative has shown impact on contraceptive use from its communication components even within a few years, as described in 2 GHSP articles. One specifically addressed “ideation” about family planning in detail and was able to show both changes in ideation due to program exposure and correlated changes in contraceptive use. The other used a sophisticated analytical technique that indicated the observed changes in contraceptive use resulted from exposure to the communication efforts, and not just because people more prone to adopt family planning were also more likely to recall exposure to the communication messages.
- Strategies to reduce risks in ARV supply chains in the developing world
Key strategies of the main ARV procurement program for PEPFAR to reduce supply chain risks include: (1) employing pooled procurement to reduce procurement and shipping costs and to accommodate changing country needs by making stock adjustments at the regional level, and (2) establishing regional distribution centers to facilitate faster turnaround of orders within defined catchment areas.
- A stewardship approach to shaping the future of public health supply chain systems
Guiding Principles: (1) Governments should see themselves as stewards of supply chains, providing vision, guidance, and oversight, not necessarily as operators of supply chains. (2) Governments should not be afraid to leverage the multiple supply chain actors and diverse options available; these can be woven into a coherent, integrated system, providing flexibility and reducing risk. (3) Governments will need new skills in leadership, regulation, market research, contract design, oversight of outsourced providers, financial analysis, and alliance-building.
- Demand generation activities and modern contraceptive use in urban areas of four countries: a longitudinal evaluation
Demand generation activities that were significantly associated with increased use of modern contraception in India (Uttar Pradesh), Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal included: (1) community outreach activities, such as home visits and group discussions about family planning; (2) local radio programs; and (3) branded slogans and print materials circulated widely across the city. Television programming was also significant in India and Nigeria. Exposure to more activities may increase women's likelihood of using contraception.
- The future of routine immunization in the developing world: challenges and opportunities
Vaccine costs in the developing world have grown from < US$1/child in 2001 to about $21 for boys and $35 for girls in 2014, as more and costlier vaccines are being introduced into national immunization programs. To address these and other challenges, additional efforts are needed to strengthen 8 critical components of routine immunization: (1) policy, standards, and guidelines; (2) governance, organization, and management; (3) human resources; (4) vaccine, cold chain, and logistics management; (5) service delivery; (6) communication and community partnerships; (7) data generation and use; and (8) sustainable financing.
- Using behavior change communication to lead a comprehensive family planning program: the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative
Greater exposure to a comprehensive family planning program in urban Nigeria that emphasized demand generation and communication theory was associated with improved ideation among women (their beliefs, ideas, and feelings about family planning), and more positive ideation was associated with greater contraceptive use, especially among the poor. Improving providers' knowledge, attitudes, and skills was also key. By the end of the observation period, outreach through mobile service delivery contributed nearly one-half of the project clinics' family planning services.
- Oxytocin: taking the heat
Oxytocin-in-Uniject satisfied the standards of its temperature-time indicator (TTI) in severe home storage conditions, although that required resupply every 30 days—a logistically onerous programmatic standard. Possible advances include: (1) incorporating TTIs with packaged batches of less expensive and more widely used conventional vials of oxytocin; (2) using TTIs calibrated more closely to the actual temperature sensitivity of oxytocin; and (3) researching whether a lower dose of oxytocin would be equally efficacious in preventing postpartum hemorrhage.
- Nationwide implementation of integrated community case management of childhood illness in Rwanda
Between 2008 and 2011, Rwanda introduced iCCM of childhood illness nationwide. One year after iCCM rollout, community-based treatment for diarrhea and pneumonia had increased significantly, and under-5 mortality and overall health facility use had declined significantly.