Co-authored by MCHIP staff, this article makes the case that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services—which target healthy, HIV-negative males, especially adolescents—provide an important opportunity for provision of preventive health services with this population. In particular, VMMC services present a chance to offer these young men HIV testing and counseling, and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, as well …
Penile Measurements in Tanzanian Males: Guiding Circumcision Device Design and Supply Forecasting
Co-authored by MCHIP staff, the article describes a study conducted at three health facilities in Tanzania’s Iringa Region to gather data on penile measurements that will inform the development of devices for adult/adolescent voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). Such devices could potentially accelerate the pace of VMMC scale-up. This descriptive study is the first study in a sub-Saharan African population …
Community-based intervention packages facilitated by NGOs demonstrate plausible evidence of child mortality impact
Co-authored by MCHIP staff, this article was published in Health Policy and Planning and presents the results of an analysis of 12 community-based projects implemented by nongovernmental organizations worldwide. The projects are funded through USAID’s Child Survival and Health Grants Program to which MCHIP gives technical support. All 12 projects substantially increased coverage of multiple high-impact interventions. LiST analyses showed …
Communication for Polio Eradication: Improving the Quality of Communication Programming Through Real-Time Monitoring and Evaluation
Drawing on evidence from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, this article examines how the Global Polio Eradication Initiative utilized monitoring and evaluation data to focus and improve the quality and impact of communication activities.
Reaching every district (RED) approach to strengthen routine immunization services: evaluation in the African region, 2005
This evaluation was conducted to improve understanding of the Reaching Every District (RED) implementation process, which aims to improve immunization systems in areas with low coverage by: reaching the target population; supportive supervision; on-site training; community links with service delivery; monitoring and use of data for action; better planning; and management of human and financial resources.
Informal meeting on provision of home-based care to mother and child in the first week after birth
Three years after the 2009 joint statement from WHO and UNICEF recommended home visits for newborn care during the first week of life, 30 of 58 African and Asian countries have a related policy. This report, from a February 2012 meeting, captures the experiences implementing these programs and the context of postnatal care in which these visits are happening.
Malaria Protection in Pregnancy: A lifesaving intervention for preventing neonatal mortality and low birth weight
This paper synthesizes information and key findings from recent studies highlighting the critical importance of continuing intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) as well as insecticide treated bed net (ITN) use among pregnant women to prevent the adverse consequences of malaria in pregnancy (MIP). It also includes information on implications for MIP programs. (Available in English …
Strengthening Health Management Information Systems for Maternal and Child Health: Documenting MCHIP’s Contributions
As part of it its efforts to improve the quality of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) care in low-income countries, MCHIP has taken specific steps to improve the monitoring of MNCH services through strengthening routine HMIS. These efforts have led to better monitoring and evaluation, higher-quality data, and informed decision-making in 28 countries across MNCH interventions. Ongoing efforts to …
Multi-country Assessment of KMC in Sub-Saharan Africa
Saving Newborn Lives and MCHIP jointly supported a multi-country assessment of Kangaroo Mother Care in sub-Saharan Africa. Four country visits—to Malawi, Mali, Rwanda and Uganda—produced a very detailed report of each country’s findings.
Reproductive health services in Malawi: An evaluation of a quality improvement intervention
An article in the journal “Midwifery” evaluates the impact of a quality improvement initiative in Malawi on reproductive health service quality and related outcomes. Results from the study indicate that PQI is an effective way to improve the quality of health services in a low-resource setting. To read the article, click here.