scholarly journals Integrating Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Care into General Maternal Child Health Care in Western Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Michelle Berlacher ◽  
Timothy Mercer ◽  
Edith O. Apondi ◽  
Winfred Mwangi ◽  
Edwin Were ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Maternal Child Health ◽  
Child Transmission ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Maternal Child

Background: Health systems integration is becoming increasingly important as the global health community transitions from acute, disease-specific health programming to models of care built for chronic diseases, primarily designed to strengthen public-sector health systems. In many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (pMTCT) services are being integrated into the general maternal child health (MCH) clinics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits and challenges for integration of care within a developing health system, through the lens of an evaluative framework. Methods: A framework adapted from the World Health Organization’s six critical health systems functions was used to evaluate the integration of pMTCT services with general MCH clinics in western Kenya. Perspectives were collected from key stakeholders, including pMTCT and MCH program leadership and local health providers. The benefits and challenges of integration across each of the health system functions were evaluated to better understand this approach. Results: Key informants in leadership positions and MCH staff shared similar perspectives regarding benefits and challenges of integration. Benefits of integration included convenience for families through streamlining of services and reduced HIV stigma. Concerns and challenges included confidentiality issues related to HIV status, particularly in the context of high-volume, crowded clinical spaces. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: The results from this study highlight areas that need to be addressed to maximize the effectiveness and clinical flow of the pMTCT-MCH integration model. The lessons learned from this integration may be applied to other settings in sub-Saharan Africa attempting to integrate HIV care into the broader public-sector health system. Key words: • HIV prevention • Maternal-child health • Prevention of maternal-to-child transmission • Health services • Integration • Kenya • Sub-Saharan Africa Copyright © 2020 Berlacher et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in this journal, is properly cited.

Neonatal Mortality: A Critical Global Health Issue

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 357-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Ogbolu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Maternal Child Health ◽  
Maternal Child

Almost all of the millions of babies who die worldwide in the first four weeks of life are in low- and middle-income countries. The socioeconomic status of developing countries adversely affects maternal-child health because it limits access to adequate nutrition, quality health care, medications, safe water, adequate sanitation, and other basic social services. The factors associated with high infant mortality rates transcend national boundaries, making infant mortality a critical global health problem. Poverty is one of the most important factors affecting the infant mortality rate in Nigeria. This examination of infant mortality in Nigeria exemplifies the multifactorial national and international issues underlying infant mortality in developing countries. Infant mortality in these countries will not improve without global attention and intervention. By finding creative ways to share expert knowledge about caring for neonates, neonatal nurses can contribute to global improvements in maternal-child health care.

scholarly journals Prevention of Congenital Transmission of Malaria in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Challenges and Implications for Health System Strengthening

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayode O. Osungbade ◽  
Olubunmi O. Oladunjoye
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Congenital Transmission ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Congenital Malaria

Objectives. Review of burden of congenital transmission of malaria, challenges of preventive measures, and implications for health system strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods. Literature from Pubmed (MEDLINE), Biomed central, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database were reviewed.Results. The prevalence of congenital malaria in sub-Saharan Africa ranges from 0 to 23%. Diagnosis and existing preventive measures are constantly hindered by weak health systems and sociocultural issues. WHO strategic framework for prevention: intermittent preventive therapy (IPT), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and case management of malaria illness and anaemia remain highly promising; though, specific interventions are required to strengthen the health systems in order to improve the effectiveness of these measures.Conclusion. Congenital malaria remains a public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Overcoming the challenges of the preventive measures hinges on the ability of national governments and development partners in responding to the weak health systems.

Global Health Project for Maternal Child Health in a Developing Country: Case Study in Tigray, Ethiopia

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Sook Bang ◽  
Insook Lee ◽  
Young-Sook Park ◽  
Sun-Mi Chae ◽  
Hyunju Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Maternal Child Health ◽  
Country Case Study ◽  
Health Project ◽  
Maternal Child

Local Governance and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Rural Kenya

2016 ◽  
pp. 175-183
Author(s):  
Alfred Akwala
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Maternal Child Health ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Participatory Communication ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Maternal Child

Poor communication approaches in addition to other socio-economic factors in rural areas are the greatest contributors to infant and maternal mortality. Estimates show that sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia bear the greatest burden of maternal mortality. Traditional media has been seen to be ineffective in dissemination of maternal-child health information. However information communication technology (ICT) provides a variety of media platforms that can be appropriated in disseminating maternal-child health knowledge. The objective of this paper was to investigate how ICT can be appropriated in rural areas for campaigns in maternal-child health. One major issue emerged in this paper; that appropriate interactive and participatory communication through ICT influences the dissemination of maternal-child health knowledge among the rural population and thus influences utilisation of skilled maternal-child health services.

The effect of health expenditure on selected maternal and child health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1386-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashiabi Nicholas ◽  
Nketiah-Amponsah Edward ◽  
Senadza Bernardin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maternal Child Health ◽  
Public Health Expenditure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Child Health Outcomes ◽  
Maternal Child

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of public and private health expenditures on selected maternal-child health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach The study utilizes panel data on 40 SSA countries spanning the period 2000-2010. The data are analyzed using the fixed effects estimation technique. Findings The results indicate that public health expenditure is inversely and significantly related to infant (IMRR) and under-five (U5MR) mortalities in SSA. Though public health expenditure has the a priori negative sign, it has no significant effect on maternal mortality (MMR) in SSA. Further, private health expenditure did not prove to be significant in improving maternal-child health outcomes (IMRR, U5MR and MMR) in SSA. Practical implications The implication of the findings is that a percentage point increase in public health expenditure (as a share of GDP) across the region will result in saving the lives of about 7,040 children every year. Hence, it is important for governments in SSA to increase their shares of health expenditure (public health expenditure) in order to achieve improved health outcomes. Originality/value Previous studies have not adequately explored the effect of various components of health expenditures – public and private – on health outcomes in the context of SSA. In addition to the focus on maternal-child health variables such as infant, under-five and maternal mortalities, the study accounts for the possibility of a non-linear and non-monotonic relationship between healthcare expenditures and health outcomes.

scholarly journals Programme recommendations for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: A practical guide for managers

2003 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maternal Child Health ◽  
Mother To Child Transmission ◽  
Child Transmission ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Mother To Child ◽  
Prevention Of Hiv

UNAIDS estimates that 800,000 children were infected with HIV in 2001, almost all through transmission of the virus from their mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Of these, seven of each eight live in sub-Saharan Africa and most of the rest live in South and Southeast Asia. To combat mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT), in 1999 the UNAIDS Secretariat, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO launched the Inter Agency Task Team on Prevention of HIV Transmission in Pregnant Women, Mothers, and Their Children (IATT), which provides guidance for prevention of MTCT (PMTCT). In the view of the IATT, PMTCT is part of broader strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, to care for HIV-positive women and their families, and to promote maternal-child health. The IATT has proposed a four-pronged approach for the prevention of HIV transmission to pregnant women, mothers, and their children, yet significant financial and technical challenges remain. To address these challenges, UNICEF has supported 11 pilot projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This HIV/AIDS working paper provides guidance for improving and scaling up PMTCT programs, based on what program managers and evaluators identify as successful strategies.

scholarly journals Changing men or changing health systems? A scoping review of interventions, services and programmes targeting men’s health in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Beia ◽  
Karina Kielmann ◽  
Karin Diaconu
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Gender Neutral ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Sex and gender have been shown to influence health literacy, health seeking behaviour, and health outcomes. However, research examining the links between gender and health has mainly focused on women’s health, which is a long-standing global health priority. We examine literature focused on the ‘missing men’ in global health research, in particular empirical studies that document interventions, programmes, and services targeting men’s health issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Within these studies, we identify dominant conceptualisations of men and men’s health and how these have influenced the design of men’s health interventions and services. Methods This is a scoping review of published and grey literature. Following comprehensive searches, we included 56 studies in the review. We conducted a bibliographic analysis of all studies and used inductive methods to analyse textual excerpts referring to conceptualizations of men and service design. An existing framework to categorise services, interventions, or programs according to their gender-responsiveness was adapted and used for the latter analysis. Results From the included studies, we distinguished four principal ways in which men were conceptualized in programs and interventions: men are variously depicted as ‘gatekeepers’; ‘masculine’ men, ‘marginal’ men and as ‘clients. Additionally, we classified the gender-responsiveness of interventions, services or programmes described in the studies within the following categories: gender-neutral, −partnering, −sensitive and -transformative. Interventions described are predominantly gender-neutral or gender-partnering, with limited data available on transformative interventions. Health systems design features – focused mainly on achieving women’s access to, and uptake of services – may contribute to the latter gap leading to poor access and engagement of men with health services. Conclusion This review highlights the need for transformation in sub-Saharan African health systems towards greater consideration of men’s health issues and health-seeking patterns.

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