Latest Articles
- 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.
- Exclusive breastfeeding: aligning the indicator with the goal
While the global objective is exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for a full 6 months duration, the standard indicator is a “prevalence” indicator, that is, the percentage of all children under age 6 months who are exclusively breastfed at a point in time. That yields a higher percentage than a more direct indicator of duration and can be easily misunderstood, exaggerating the amount of EBF. A measurement of actual percentage of children exclusively breastfeeding for a full 6 months can be easily calculated from standard DHS and MICS data.
- Combating trafficking in persons: a call to action for global health professionals
Health care professionals can help identify victims of human trafficking, who commonly come into contact with providers during captivity. Providers can also help restore the physical and mental health of trafficking survivors. Training should focus on recognizing trafficking signs, interviewing techniques, and recommended responses when a victim is identified.
- 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.
- Strategic contracting practices to improve procurement of health commodities
Practices such as flexible, pre-established framework agreements can improve timeliness and cost of procurement and help improve commodity security. Addressing legislative barriers and building technical capacity in contract management may facilitate the use of such practices.
- Cumulative effects of heat exposure and storage conditions of Oxytocin-in-Uniject in rural Ghana: implications for scale up
Oxytocin-in-Uniject devices could be stored 30 to 40 days without refrigeration under typical field conditions, with wastage levels below 10%, based on simulation studies.