This report outlines key interventions for maternal and newborn health care programmes to improve maternal and newborn health and survival. These should be delivered by the health services, family, and the community to the mother during pregnancy, childbirth and in the postpartum period, and to the newborn soon after birth. They include important preventive, curative and health promotional activities for the
present as well as the future.
Equitable health services
Interventions recommended to improve maternal and newborn health
World Health Organisation, May 2007
Investigating health system performance: An application of data envelopment analysis to Zambian hospitals
Masiye F: BMC Health Services Research 7:58, 25 April 2007
Zambia has recently articulated an ambitious national health program designed to meeting health-related MDGs. Public expectations are high and Zambia continues to receive significant resources from global and bilateral donors to support its health agenda. Although the lack of adequate resources presents the most important constraint, the efficiency with which available resources are being utilised is another challenge that cannot be overlooked. Inefficiency in producing health care undermines the service coverage potential of the health system. This paper estimates the technical efficiency of a sample of hospitals in Zambia. This study demonstrates that inefficiency of resource use in hospitals is significant. Policy attention is drawn to unsuitable hospital scale of operation and low productivity of some inputs as factors that reinforce each other to make Zambian hospitals technically inefficient at producing and delivering services. It is argued that such evidence of substantial inefficiency would undermine Zambia's prospects of achieving its health goals.
Lessons learned from bednet distribution in Central Mozambique
Brentlinger PE, Correia MAC, Chinhacata FS, et al: Health Policy and Planning 22(2) :103-110, 2007
In this study commercial shopkeepers and groups of community leaders were trained to promote and sell ITNs in 19 sites in central Mozambique between 2000 and 2004. Pregnant women and children under 5 years of age comprised the target population. Sales records, household survey results and project experiences were examined to derive ‘lessons learned’. The authors conclude that this project failed to achieve adequate or equitable levels of ITN coverage in a timely manner in the programme sites. Its findings helped support a subsequent Mozambican decision to conduct targeted distribution of long-lasting nets to the neediest populations in the provinces where the project was conducted.
Poor access to health services: Ways Ethiopia is overcoming it
Chaya N: Population Action International Research Commentaries 2(2), 23 April 2007
Weak infrastructure and limited distribution systems in low-income countries complicate access to health services, especially in rural areas. Government health outlets may be relatively few and widely dispersed, and private-sector sources often favor wealthier urban areas, resulting in uneven service availability within a country. In the absence of a solid heath infrastructure, strengthening primary health care and innovative community-based health service delivery systems help provide more equitable access to health services. Some programs are underway in Ethiopia whose successes do not depend on the availability of a strong infrastructure.
Review of implementation of the AU plan on traditional medicine (2001-2010)
Afriican Union, 9-13 April 2007
South Africa was asked to review the progress made by Africa on the implementation of the Plan of Action on the African Union (AU) Decade of Traditional Medicine (2001-2010). The challenge was noted of getting as broad a representation and information from all regions, to foster collaboration among countries and regions as well as to promote information sharing on how best to put African Traditional Medicine in its rightful place.
Adherence to TB treatment in Ethiopia: Why do patients default?
Tesfaye H: PLoS Med 4 (4): e165, 24 April 2007
This paper outlines the main findings on reasons for adherence to TB treatment in Ethiopia, including physical lack of access to the treatment centre as the main cause of failure to adherence to therapy.
Africa must face the challenge of urban malaria
id21 Health News, December 2006
As more Africans move from rural areas to the cities the risk of urban malaria increases. City health services need to focus on poor people who are most at risk from the disease. Malaria programmes should operate on a district by district basis as levels of malaria can vary dramatically throughout the city.
Diagnosis and treatment of malaria in peripheral health facilities in Uganda: findings from an area of low transmission in south-western Uganda
Ndyomugyenyi R, Magnussen P, Clarke S: Malaria Journal 6:39, April 2007
Early recognition of symptoms and signs perceived as malaria are important for effective case management, as few laboratories are available at peripheral health facilities. The validity and reliability of clinical signs and symptoms used by health workers to diagnose malaria were assessed in an area of low transmission in south-western Uganda.
Eastern Cape Health dept certifies 36 "baby friendly" hospitals
Mbola B: BuaNews, 26 April 2007
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has certified 36 hospitals under the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The assessment of hospitals started in 1999 in the province when one hospital received "baby friendly" status. The BFHI is a global strategy implemented by healthcare facilities that render care to both mothers and children worldwide. It aims to increase awareness of the critical role of health services in the romotion of breastfeeding and to give guidelines for appropriate information and support to mothers. It also focuses on maternity care services which involves the holistic care of mother and baby both within the facility.
Health strategy rejected
Powell J 23 April 2007
European executive directors and alternates have written a letter to staff in the World Bank human development network to explain their rejection of the draft health, nutrition and population strategy. Gender and reproductive health groups have been bombarding the directors with complaints over the alleged watering down of the strategy. In their letter, the directors raise concern that the strategy makes virtually no reference to sexual and reproductive health.