Global Health Hub: news and blogosphere aggregator » Maternal & Reproductive Health http://www.globalhealthhub.org Keeping up with global health & development news, blogosphere, forums, events, jobs and more Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 New butter/Nutributter® now being tested for pregnant moms http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/new-butternutributter-now-being-tested-for-pregnant-moms/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/new-butternutributter-now-being-tested-for-pregnant-moms/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 00:26:00 +0000 Maternova http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/new-butternutributter-now-being-tested-for-pregnant-moms/ By this point, you may be familiar with Plumpy’nutr®, the miraculous peanut paste in a foil pouch that is being used to treat children with severe acute malnutrition in communities around the world. To recap: the genius of this innovation is that children can be treated at home rather than as inpatients. But what you may not know is that a variation of Plumpy’nut®’s sister product, Nutributter® is being tested for improving the odds for pregnant women and their infants. Nutributter® is also a micronutrient-fortified semi-solid paste. It’s also known as a lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS)

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New butter/Nutributter® now being tested for pregnant moms

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/new-butternutributter-now-being-tested-for-pregnant-moms/feed/ 0 World Health Assembly convenes with focus on post-2015 global development… http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/world-health-assembly-convenes-with-focus-on-post-2015-global-development/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/world-health-assembly-convenes-with-focus-on-post-2015-global-development/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 07:10:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/world-health-assembly-convenes-with-focus-on-post-2015-global-development/

The 66th World Health Assembly convened today, May 20 with addresses and discussions focused on the post-2015 global development agenda. The Assembly runs through May 28, and will feature numerous discussions and consideration of resolutions on issues that are critical … Continue reading →

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World Health Assembly convenes with focus on post-2015 global development…

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/21/world-health-assembly-convenes-with-focus-on-post-2015-global-development/feed/ 0 The Lancet publishes a special issue to coincide with the upcoming Women… http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/the-lancet-publishes-a-special-issue-to-coincide-with-the-upcoming-women/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/the-lancet-publishes-a-special-issue-to-coincide-with-the-upcoming-women/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 00:25:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/the-lancet-publishes-a-special-issue-to-coincide-with-the-upcoming-women/

The Lancet has published a special issue, focused on maternal health, that comes just before the third Women Deliver conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This exciting issue includes several studies and comments that examine the critical factors … Continue reading →

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The Lancet publishes a special issue to coincide with the upcoming Women…

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/the-lancet-publishes-a-special-issue-to-coincide-with-the-upcoming-women/feed/ 0 Effect of HIV infection on pregnancy-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: secondary analyses of pooled community-based data from the network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA) http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/effect-of-hiv-infection-on-pregnancy-related-mortality-in-sub-saharan-africa-secondary-analyses-of-pooled-community-based-data-from-the-network-for-analysing-longitudinal-population-based-hivaids-da/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/effect-of-hiv-infection-on-pregnancy-related-mortality-in-sub-saharan-africa-secondary-analyses-of-pooled-community-based-data-from-the-network-for-analysing-longitudinal-population-based-hivaids-da/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 14:06:00 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96898 Model-based estimates of the global proportions of maternal deaths that are in HIV-infected women range from 7% to 21%, and the effects of HIV on the risk of maternal death is highly uncertain. We used longitudinal data from the Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA) network to estimate the excess mortality associated with HIV during pregnancy and the post-partum period in sub-Saharan Africa.

via Effect of HIV infection on pregnancy-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: secondary analyses of pooled community-based data from the network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA) : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/effect-of-hiv-infection-on-pregnancy-related-mortality-in-sub-saharan-africa-secondary-analyses-of-pooled-community-based-data-from-the-network-for-analysing-longitudinal-population-based-hivaids-da/feed/ 0 Women’s groups practising participatory learning and action to improve maternal and newborn health in low-resource settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/womens-groups-practising-participatory-learning-and-action-to-improve-maternal-and-newborn-health-in-low-resource-settings-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/womens-groups-practising-participatory-learning-and-action-to-improve-maternal-and-newborn-health-in-low-resource-settings-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 14:04:04 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96897 Maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high in many low-income and middle-income countries. Different approaches for the improvement of birth outcomes have been used in community-based interventions, with heterogeneous effects on survival. We assessed the effects of women’s groups practising participatory learning and action, compared with usual care, on birth outcomes in low-resource settings.

via Women’s groups practising participatory learning and action to improve maternal and newborn health in low-resource settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/womens-groups-practising-participatory-learning-and-action-to-improve-maternal-and-newborn-health-in-low-resource-settings-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/feed/ 0 Effect of women’s groups and volunteer peer counselling on rates of mortality, morbidity, and health behaviours in mothers and children in rural Malawi (MaiMwana): a factorial, cluster-randomised controlled trial http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/effect-of-womens-groups-and-volunteer-peer-counselling-on-rates-of-mortality-morbidity-and-health-behaviours-in-mothers-and-children-in-rural-malawi-maimwana-a-factorial-cluster-randomised-con/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/effect-of-womens-groups-and-volunteer-peer-counselling-on-rates-of-mortality-morbidity-and-health-behaviours-in-mothers-and-children-in-rural-malawi-maimwana-a-factorial-cluster-randomised-con/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 14:02:30 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96896 Women’s groups and health education by peer counsellors can improve the health of mothers and children. We assessed their effects on mortality and breastfeeding rates in rural Malawi.

via Effect of women’s groups and volunteer peer counselling on rates of mortality, morbidity, and health behaviours in mothers and children in rural Malawi (MaiMwana): a factorial, cluster-randomised controlled trial : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/effect-of-womens-groups-and-volunteer-peer-counselling-on-rates-of-mortality-morbidity-and-health-behaviours-in-mothers-and-children-in-rural-malawi-maimwana-a-factorial-cluster-randomised-con/feed/ 0 Nigeria aims to boost fight against maternal mortality http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/nigeria-aims-to-boost-fight-against-maternal-mortality/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/nigeria-aims-to-boost-fight-against-maternal-mortality/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:44 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96895 Nigerian officials hope that new measures to improve health care for women will bring down the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

via Nigeria aims to boost fight against maternal mortality : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/nigeria-aims-to-boost-fight-against-maternal-mortality/feed/ 0 Maternal deaths and HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-deaths-and-hiv-treatment-in-sub-saharan-africa/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-deaths-and-hiv-treatment-in-sub-saharan-africa/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 13:48:11 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96886 In the past 30 years, reduction of maternal mortality has been a prominent focus in global public health. Improvements in women’s reproductive health and antenatal and obstetric services mean that Millennium Development Goal 5 (target A of which aims to reduce maternal mortality by 75% between 1990 and 2015) has come within sight in many countries, most notably in Latin America and Asia. Yet across sub-Saharan Africa, maternal mortality has been an intractable problem. More than 50% of all maternal deaths occur in Africa, and the maternal mortality ratio in sub-Saharan Africa is more than double the global average

via Maternal deaths and HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-deaths-and-hiv-treatment-in-sub-saharan-africa/feed/ 0 Maternal health: a missed opportunity for development http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-health-a-missed-opportunity-for-development/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-health-a-missed-opportunity-for-development/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 13:40:54 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96878 Millennium Development Goal 5 sets the ambitious goal of a 75% reduction in maternal mortality worldwide by 2015. Although some progress has been made, the risks from childbearing remain unacceptably high: an estimated 287 000 maternal deaths occurred in 2010, almost all of which were in developing countries. Moreover, maternal deaths are just the tip of the iceberg—millions more women suffer adverse health consequences from childbirth. Although medical solutions do exist, increased government attention is needed to implement policies and programmes to improve the supply of, and demand for, services. Although part of the challenge has been the scarcity of resources—countries with the highest rates of maternal mortality are also among the poorest in the world—the political will to prioritise investments in maternal health has been insufficient. To improve maternal health outcomes will need an expansion of the agency of women, which is their ability to use endowments to take advantage of opportunities to achieve desired outcomes, to demand better services, and to use the services available, combined with strengthening of accountability mechanisms to ensure that these services are delivered in equitable and accessible ways.

via Maternal health: a missed opportunity for development : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-health-a-missed-opportunity-for-development/feed/ 0 Maternal health in Malaysia: progress and potential http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-health-in-malaysia-progress-and-potential/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-health-in-malaysia-progress-and-potential/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 13:38:28 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96870 The third Women Deliver conference, on May 28—30, 2013, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marks a new chapter for maternal health in Malaysia and worldwide. We have witnessed national maternal mortality rates in Malaysia decrease from 540 per 100 000 livebirths in 1957 to just 28 in 2010. The percentage of women delivering in national institutional settings rose from 10% in 1957 to 98·7% in 2005. We hope that Malaysia’s successes and the struggles that we continue to face will be useful to countries working to improve maternal and reproductive health.

via Maternal health in Malaysia: progress and potential : The Lancet.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/17/maternal-health-in-malaysia-progress-and-potential/feed/ 0 Highlights from the Malaria in Pregnancy Working Group’s annual meeting http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/16/highlights-from-the-malaria-in-pregnancy-working-groups-annual-meeting/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/16/highlights-from-the-malaria-in-pregnancy-working-groups-annual-meeting/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 22:10:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/16/highlights-from-the-malaria-in-pregnancy-working-groups-annual-meeting/

Written by Samantha Lattof, MHTF Senior Research and Evaluation Manager Despite encouraging progress, coverage of malaria control efforts among pregnant women remains low. Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) continues to be a substantial contributor to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in … Continue reading →

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Highlights from the Malaria in Pregnancy Working Group’s annual meeting

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/16/highlights-from-the-malaria-in-pregnancy-working-groups-annual-meeting/feed/ 0 Investing in Midwifery to Ensure Respectful Maternity Care at the Aberdeen… http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/investing-in-midwifery-to-ensure-respectful-maternity-care-at-the-aberdeen/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/investing-in-midwifery-to-ensure-respectful-maternity-care-at-the-aberdeen/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 04:50:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/investing-in-midwifery-to-ensure-respectful-maternity-care-at-the-aberdeen/

Guest post by Fistula Care.  With just 1 midwife for every 1000 live births, Sierra Leone needs a twelve-fold increase in its midwifery workforce to ensure full coverage of maternal and newborn health services.  It is tempting to focus exclusively … Continue reading →

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Investing in Midwifery to Ensure Respectful Maternity Care at the Aberdeen…

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/investing-in-midwifery-to-ensure-respectful-maternity-care-at-the-aberdeen/feed/ 0 Checking in on… the State of the World’s Mothers Report http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/checking-in-on-the-state-of-the-worlds-mothers-report/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/checking-in-on-the-state-of-the-worlds-mothers-report/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 20:11:00 +0000 Maternova http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/checking-in-on-the-state-of-the-worlds-mothers-report/ The first day of life is also the most risky, both for the infant–and often for the mother. This year’s report on the State of the World’s Mothers came out last week. The focus of this report is on the first day of life. Save the Children, authors of the report, developed the first-ever “Birth Day Risk Index” to assess newborn odds of survival on that very first day that they are born.

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Checking in on… the State of the World’s Mothers Report

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/15/checking-in-on-the-state-of-the-worlds-mothers-report/feed/ 0 Brazil has one of the world’s highest rates of Cesarean births, NPR… http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/brazil-has-one-of-the-worlds-highest-rates-of-cesarean-births-npr/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/brazil-has-one-of-the-worlds-highest-rates-of-cesarean-births-npr/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 19:49:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/brazil-has-one-of-the-worlds-highest-rates-of-cesarean-births-npr/

On May 12th, NPR ran a story, C-Sections Deliver Cachet For Wealthy Brazilian Women, that explores the extraordinary numbers of Cesarean deliveries occurring in Brazil. The author discusses various factors that might be contributing to the issue: To what extent … Continue reading →

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Brazil has one of the world’s highest rates of Cesarean births, NPR…

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/brazil-has-one-of-the-worlds-highest-rates-of-cesarean-births-npr/feed/ 0 Even After Overhaul, Gaps In Coverage For Young, Pregnant Women http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/even-after-overhaul-gaps-in-coverage-for-young-pregnant-women/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/even-after-overhaul-gaps-in-coverage-for-young-pregnant-women/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 19:12:23 +0000 Sara Gorman http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96236 The federal health care overhaul makes some notable improvements in insurance coverage for young adults.

They can now stay on their parents’ health plans until they turn 26. Next year they can also look for subsidized coverage on the state-based insurance marketplaces, also called exchanges. And they may qualify for Medicaid, if their income are less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($15,856 in 2013).

So far, so good.

But young women who get pregnant may encounter unexpected gaps in coverage. Although the law requires most individual and small group plans to provide maternity and newborn care, large group plans aren’t subject to those rules.

via Even After Overhaul, Gaps In Coverage For Young, Pregnant Women : Shots – Health News : NPR.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/14/even-after-overhaul-gaps-in-coverage-for-young-pregnant-women/feed/ 0 PBS blog series explores mhealth in Africa http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/pbs-blog-series-explores-mhealth-in-africa/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/pbs-blog-series-explores-mhealth-in-africa/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 04:18:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/pbs-blog-series-explores-mhealth-in-africa/

PBS is in the midst of publishing a ten-part blog series exploring the connections between between mobile technology and health in Africa. In its latest post, the series highlights the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action’s (MAMA) Ask MAMA Mobi, which … Continue reading →

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PBS blog series explores mhealth in Africa

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/pbs-blog-series-explores-mhealth-in-africa/feed/ 0 South Africa Service Uses Text Messaging to Help Expectant Mothers http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/south-africa-service-uses-text-messaging-to-help-expectant-mothers/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/south-africa-service-uses-text-messaging-to-help-expectant-mothers/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 12:40:53 +0000 GHHub http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=96057 An innovative program combining maternity advice and mobile phones is launching in South Africa, and could affect the lives of millions of mothers and babies. The service has already been launched in Bangladesh, and will soon come to India.

 

via South Africa Service Uses Text Messaging to Help Expectant Mothers.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/13/south-africa-service-uses-text-messaging-to-help-expectant-mothers/feed/ 0 Gates Foundation reflects in “Family Health Checkup” blog series http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/10/gates-foundation-reflects-in-family-health-checkup-blog-series/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/10/gates-foundation-reflects-in-family-health-checkup-blog-series/#comments Sat, 11 May 2013 04:39:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/10/gates-foundation-reflects-in-family-health-checkup-blog-series/

This year, as the family health team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation undertakes its annual strategy review, its members are contributing to the Family Health Check Up blog series. In the post introducing the series, Gary Darmstadt, the Foundation’s Director … Continue reading →

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Gates Foundation reflects in “Family Health Checkup” blog series

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/10/gates-foundation-reflects-in-family-health-checkup-blog-series/feed/ 0 Wilson Center event May 14: Girls on the move report launch http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/wilson-center-event-may-14-girls-on-the-move-report-launch/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/wilson-center-event-may-14-girls-on-the-move-report-launch/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 14:20:00 +0000 Maternal Health Task force http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/wilson-center-event-may-14-girls-on-the-move-report-launch/

The Wilson Center Comparative Urban Studies Project is hosting an discussion on May 14 to mark the launch of Girls on the Move: Adolescent Girls and Migration in the Developing World, the latest edition of the Population Council’s Girls Count … Continue reading →

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Wilson Center event May 14: Girls on the move report launch

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/wilson-center-event-may-14-girls-on-the-move-report-launch/feed/ 0 PLOS Medicine: Grand Challenges: Integrating Maternal Mental Health into Maternal and Child Health Programmes http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/plos-medicine-grand-challenges-integrating-maternal-mental-health-into-maternal-and-child-health-programmes/ http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/plos-medicine-grand-challenges-integrating-maternal-mental-health-into-maternal-and-child-health-programmes/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 14:04:16 +0000 Sara Gorman http://www.globalhealthhub.org/?p=95748 Over the last decade, a number of influential organisations have called for the integration of mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders into large scale public health programmes. Although progress at the implementation level has been slow, the development of a number of evidence-based, potentially scalable interventions in the MNS field provides new impetus to develop strategies for integration with broader programmes.

via PLOS Medicine: Grand Challenges: Integrating Maternal Mental Health into Maternal and Child Health Programmes.

]]> http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2013/05/09/plos-medicine-grand-challenges-integrating-maternal-mental-health-into-maternal-and-child-health-programmes/feed/ 0