New resource additions to the IDEAS Maternal and Child Health library during June to September 2012 Below are brief details of the 184 new resources that have been added to the IDEAS Maternal and Newborn Health Library: A library of around 2,000 resources relating to Maternal and Newborn Health and other topics relevant to the work of IDEAS e.g. economic evaluation, scale-up and diffusion etc. Where the full text is available through Open Access, there is a note after the URL. Other URLs give access to abstracts. IDEAS Technical Resource Centre members can access some resources via ideas- trc.lshtm.ac.uk. There are a number of access schemes that make academic journals and papers available to people in low- and middle-income countries through which you may be able you to access the full text of resources that are otherwise available through subscription. “Scale” and “Scaling-up”: A CORE Group Background Paper on “Scaling-Up” Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services. (2005). Core GroupThis paper briefly summarizes definitions, approaches, and challenges to achieving “scale” in community-focused health programs as discussed at the 2005 CORE spring meeting and the USAID child survival and health grants program mini-university. http://www.mchip.net/sites/default/files/scaling_up_background_paper_7-13.pdf. [Management Sciences for Health] Ten dimensions of scaling up reproductive health programs: an introduction. [2002]. This is the introduction to a series of issue papers for family planning and reproductive health program managers that consider: change, capacity, strategy, impact, sustainability, access, supply and demand, cost, resources and timing. http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNACR636.pdf. Abhulimhen-Iyoha, B. I. and M. O. Ibadin Determinants of cord care practices among mothers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract (2012). 15(2): 210-213 The objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence cord care practices among mothers in Benin City. http://www.njcponline.com/article.asp?issn=1119- 3077;year=2012;volume=15;issue=2;spage=210;epage=213;aulast=Abhulimhen-Iyoha Abimbola, S., U. Okoli, et al. The Midwives Service Scheme in Nigeria. PLoS Med (2012). 9(5): 5. Nigeria, with more than 140 million people, including 31 million women of childbearing age and 28 million children under the age of five, is by far the most populous African country. However, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Nigeria is 545/100,000 live births, as only one in three births in Nigeria is attended by skilled personnel, less than 20% of children are fully immunised at age one, and 36% of pregnant women do not receive antenatal care (ANC). Thus, strengthening these services is an urgent imperative. http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001211 Aday, L. A. and R. Andersen A framework for the study of access to medical care. Health Services Research (1974). 9(3): 208-220. Definitions and aspects of the concept of access to medical care are reviewed and integrated into a framework that views health policy as designed to affect characteristics of the health care delivery system and of the population at risk in order to bring about changes in the utilization of health care services and in the satisfaction of consumers with those services. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071804/pdf/hsresearch00560-0030.pdf Adebowale, A. S., B. O. Yusuf, et al. Survival probability and predictors for woman experience childhood death in Nigeria: Analysis of north-south differentials. BMC Public Health (2012). 12(430) There is dearth of information on the comparison of childhood mortality probability and its causal factors in the Northern and Southern Nigeria. This study was designed to fill these gaps. http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-12-430.pdf This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Adebowale, S. A., F. A. Fagbamigbe, et al. Contraceptive use: implication for completed fertility, parity progression and maternal nutritional status in Nigeria. Afr J Reprod Health (2011). 15(4): 60-67 This study identified socio-demographic factors influencing contraceptive use while using nutritional status, completed fertility and parity progression as key variables. http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/viewFile/74794/65397 Adegoke, A. A., M. Campbell, et al. Community study of maternal mortality in South West Nigeria: How applicable is the sisterhood method. Matern Child Health J (2012). This paper reports the first community based study that measures the incidence of maternal mortality in Ibadan, Nigeria using the indirect sisterhood method and explores the applicability of this method in a community where maternal mortality is not a rare event. http://www.springerlink.com/content/8865270g10k7w881/ Aggarwal, R. and A. Thind. Effect of maternal education on choice of location for delivery among Indian women. National Medical Journal of India (2011). 24(6 ): 328-334 A study of the effect of maternal education on the choice of location for delivery in the Indian population. http://www.nmji.in/archives/Volume-24/Issue-6/Original-Article-I.pdf Ahmed, T., M. Mahfuz, et al. Nutrition of children and women in Bangladesh: trends and directions for the future. J Health Popul Nutr (2012). 30(1): 1-11 Although child and maternal malnutrition has been reduced in Bangladesh, the prevalence of underweight children aged less than five years is still high (41%). Nearly one-third of women are undernourished with body mass index of <18.5 kg/m2. The prevalence of anaemia among young infants, adolescent girls, and pregnant women is still at unacceptable levels. Despite the successes in specific programmes, such as the Expanded Programme on Immunization and vitamin A supplementation, programmes for nutrition interventions are yet to be implemented at scale for reaching the entire population. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312353/?tool=pubmed Alvord, S. H., L. D. Brown, et al. Social Entrepreneurship and Societal Transformation. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science (2004). 40(3): 260-282 This study provides a comparative analysis of 7 cases of social entrepreneurship that have been widely recognized as successful. The article suggests factors associated with successful social entrepreneurship, particularly with social entrepreneurship that leads to significant changes in the social, political, and economic contexts for poor and marginalized groups. http://jab.sagepub.com/content/40/3/260.abstract Amoran, O. E. A comparative analysis of predictors of teenage pregnancy and its prevention in a rural town in Western Nigeria. International Journal for Equity in Health (2012). 11(37) Teenagers younger than 15 are five times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than women in their twenties and mortality rates for their infants are higher as well. This study was therefore designed to determine the recent prevalence and identify factors associated with teenage pregnancy in a rural town in Nigeria. http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/pdf/1475-9276-11-37.pdf This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Assefa, N., Y. Berhane, et al. Wealth status, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and antenatal care (ANC) are determinants for low birth weight in Kersa, Ethiopia. PLoS One (2012). 7(6): e39957 Low Birth Weight (LBW) is one of the major risk factor for death in early life. However, little is known about predictors of LBW in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure the incidence and determinants of LBW in a rural population of Ethiopia. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039957 Assefa, N., Y. Berhane, et al. The hazard of pregnancy loss and stillbirth among women in Kersa, East Ethiopia: A follow up study. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (2012). 3(3): 107-112 Although pregnancy loss causes considerable challenge to women’s health, population-based studies in rural areas are not widely available in low-income countries. This study aims to determine the hazard of pregnancy loss and related factors in the rural communities of Ethiopia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22980735 Atun, R., T. de Jongh, et al. Integration of targeted health interventions into health systems: a conceptual framework for analysis. Health Policy and Planning (2010). 25(2): 104-111 The proposed conceptual framework and the analytical approach are intended to facilitate analysis in evaluative and formative studies of—and policies on—integration, for use in systematically comparing and contrasting health interventions in a country or in different settings to generate meaningful evidence to inform policy. http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/content/25/2/104.abstract Baker, U., G. Tomson, et al. How to know what you need to do: a cross-country comparison of maternal health guidelines in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania. Implementation Science (2012). 7(31): 13 The study was a multiple case study design of clinical practice guidelines, consisting of cross-country comparisons using document review and key informant interviews. A conceptual framework to aid analysis and discussion of results was developed, including selected domains related to guidelines' implementability and use by health workers in practice in terms of usability, applicability, and adaptability. http://www.implementationscience.com/content/7/1/31 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Batson, A. Sustainable introduction of affordable new vaccines: the targeting strategy. Vaccine (1998). 16 (Suppl): S93–S98 The successes and failures in introducing a 'new' vaccine like hepatitis B vaccine into the world have clearly illustrated that it is economics and not epidemiology which dictates introduction of the vaccine into national immunization programmes. UNICEF and the WHO Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization (GPV) have now developed and adopted a framework which differentiates countries based on their capacity to be financially self-sufficient for their vaccine needs. This framework forms the basis of strategies designed to co-ordinate the actions of governments, donors, agencies and vaccine manufacturers in order to ensure all countries have rapid access to affordable vaccines. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X98003065 Batson, A. The problems and promise of vaccine markets in developing countries. Health Aff (Millwood) (2005). 24(3): 690-693 Major barriers to private investment in the development and production of vaccines exist for markets in developing countries. These include the risks of uncertain funding and demand and the difficulties created by historically low pricing. A number of promising and innovative approaches nonetheless are being explored to increase the incentives and reduce the risks of investing in vaccines for developing countries. These innovations are fuelled by the growing recognition of powerful stakeholders that vaccines are a critical technology for ensuring global health. http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/24/3/690.long. Battista, R. N. Innovation and diffusion of health-related technologies. A conceptual framework. Int J Technol Assess Health Care (1989). 5(2): 227-248 The development and diffusion of health-related technologies constitute an extremely complex process. This article examines the phenomenon of technological innovation; discusses the factors determining the diffusion of high, medium, and low technologies; and suggests strategies for controlling the diffusion of these technologies. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=4028460&jid=THC&volumeId=5&issue Id=02&aid=4028452 Bedell, R. The art and the science of scaling-up needle and syringe programmes. Addiction (2007). 102(8): 1179-1180 This paper highlights some of the challenges encountered in conceptualizing and evaluating availability and coverage of needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) in 25 countries surveyed in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA). http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01923.x Bedford, J., M. Gandhi, et al. 'A normal delivery takes place at home': A qualitative study of the location of childbirth in rural Ethiopia. Matern Child Health J (2012). A study to identify reasons why women who access health facilities and utilise maternal newborn and child health services at other times, do not necessarily deliver at health facilities. http://www.springerlink.com/content/tt303mqtt5r68748/ Bertrand, J. T. Diffusion of innovations and HIV/AIDS. J Health Commun (2004). 9 Suppl 1: 113-121 As the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues its relentless spread in many parts of the world, DOI provides a useful framework for analyzing the difficulties in achieving behavior change necessary to reduce HIV rates. This article describes the attributes of this preventive innovation in terms of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. It reviews studies that incorporated DOI into HIV/AIDS behavior change interventions, both in Western countries and in the developing world. Finally, it discusses possible reasons that the use of DOI has been fairly limited to date in HIV/AIDS prevention interventions in developing countries. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730490271575 Bhandari, N., A. K. Kabir, et al. Mainstreaming nutrition into maternal and child health programmes: scaling up of exclusive breastfeeding. Matern Child Nutr (2008). 4 Suppl 1: 5-23 This review examines programme efforts to scale up exclusive breastfeeding in different countries and draws lesson for successful scale-up. Opportunities and challenges in scaling up of exclusive breastfeeding into Maternal and Child Health programmes are identified. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00126.x/abstract Bharati, P., M. Pal, et al. Prevalence and causes of low birth weight in India. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (2011). 17(3): 301-313 The aims of this study are (i) to understand inter-zone and interstate variation of low birth weight (LBW) and (ii) to determine the key variables to reduce LBW in India. http://www.bovis.tv/mjn/3Bharati.pdf Blencowe, H., S. Cousens, et al. National, regional, and worldwide estimates of preterm birth rates in the year 2010 with time trends since 1990 for selected countries: a systematic analysis and implications. Lancet (2012). 379(9832): 2162-2172 Preterm birth is the second largest direct cause of child deaths in children younger than 5 years. Yet, data regarding preterm birth (<37 completed weeks of gestation) are not routinely collected by UN agencies, and no systematic country estimates nor time trend analyses have been done. We report worldwide, regional, and national estimates of preterm birth rates for 184 countries in 2010 with time trends for selected countries, and provide a quantitative assessment of the uncertainty surrounding these estimates. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673612608204 Bowen, S. and A. B. Zwi. Pathways to “evidence-informed” policy and practice: A framework for action. PLoS Med (2005). 2(7): 600-605 In this article, we propose that an “evidence-informed policy and practice pathway” can help both researchers and policy actors navigate the use of evidence. The pathway illustrates different types of evidence and their uses in health policymaking, and proposes that specific capacities, such as an individual's skills, experience, and participation in networks, influence the adoption and adaptation of evidence in practice. http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0020166 Brooten, D., J. M. Youngblut, et al. Disseminating our breakthroughs: enacting a strategic framework. Nurs Outlook (1999). 47(3): 133-137 A comprehensive framework to diffuse research findings is presented and its implementation by the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing is illustrated. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029655499900088 Bueno de Mesquita, J. and E. Kismodi. Maternal mortality and human rights: landmark decision by United Nations human rights body. Bull World Health Organ (2012). 90(2): 79-79A Reducing the world’s maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015 is one objective of Millennium Development Goal 5. However, progress towards this objective has been slow, despite global commitment and the fact that the majority of maternal deaths, 99% of which occur in developing countries, can be prevented through well known interventions. So what more is needed to get on track? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3302558/?tool=pubmed Central Statistical Agency, C. and I. International. Ethiopia demographic and health survey 2011. (2012). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia & Calverton, Maryland, USA, CSA This is the third comprehensive demographic survey conducted in Ethiopia as part of the worldwide Demongraphic and Health Surveys project. It includes chapters on Infant and child mortality, Maternal health and Child health. http://www.csa.gov.et/docs/2011%20Ethiopia%20DHS%20Final%20Report%2003-30-2012.pdf CGIAR – NGO Committee and Global Forum for Agricultural Research Going to Scale: Can we bring benefits to more people more quickly? [Draft]. Going to Scale workshop. (2000). 10-14 April 2000, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction Silang, Cavite, Philippines: 41 The general objective of this GOING TO SCALE Workshop (the Philippine Workshop) was to “generate guideposts and a list of available/emerging tools for use in scaling up efforts.” http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload/207909/gfar0086.PDF Chabalgoity, J. A. Paving the way for the introduction of new vaccines into developing countries. Expert Rev Vaccines (2005). 4(2): 147-150 Most of the new developments in vaccines are being conceived to target the market of industrialized countries and it is foreseeable that their introduction in low-to-middle income countries will be difficult if at any time possible. Strengthening their own capacities for R&D and production is likely to be the most reasonable avenue to ensure that new vaccines will become a sustainable reality for developing countries. Concerted efforts that draw together local capacities (industry and academy) with the experience of large global manufacturers, could have a major impact and provide a great example of an effective partnership to achieve this. http://www.expert-reviews.com/doi/abs/10.1586/14760584.4.2.147?url_ver=Z39.88- 2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed Chatterjee, A. and M. Sharma. Moving from a project to programmatic response: scaling up harm reduction in Asia. Int J Drug Policy (2010). 21(2): 134-136 The response to the HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs in Asia began to emerge in the early to mid 1990s, with the rather hesitant implementation of small-scale needle syringe programmes and community care initiatives aiming to support those who were already living with the virus. Since then Asia has seen a significant scaling up of harm reduction, despite very limited resources and difficult policy and legislative environments Several models of scale up have been noted in Asia. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395909001650 Chauhan, D. and A. Mason.Factors affecting the uptake of new medicines in secondary care - a literature review. J Clin Pharm Ther (2008). 33(4): 339-348 The rate of uptake of new medicines in the UK is slower than in many other OECD countries. The majority of new medicines are introduced initially in secondary care and prescribed by specialists. However, the reasons for relatively low precribing levels are poorly understood. This review explores the determinants of uptake of new medicines in secondary care. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2710.2008.00925.x/full Chico, R. M., P. Mayaud, et al. Prevalence of malaria and sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. JAMA (2012). 307(19): 2079-2086 The context for this review is that malaria and sexually transmitted infections/reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs) in pregnancy are direct and indirect causes of stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight, and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1157494 Chopra, M. and N. Ford. Scaling up health promotion interventions in the era of HIV/AIDS: challenges for a rights based approach. Health Promotion International (2005). 20(4): 383-390 This paper briefly reviews different approaches to scaling up health promotion interventions, some of the key obstacles in scaling up and then suggests some possible solutions with a focus on a human rights based approach. http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/4/383.full Clemens, J. and L. Jodar. Introducing new vaccines into developing countries: obstacles, opportunities and complexities. Nat Med (2005). 11(4 Suppl): S12-15 Infectious diseases are thought to account for nearly 25% of all deaths worldwide, and extract a disproportionate toll in developing countries. Moreover, infectious diseases are now appreciated to be major causes of the poverty and economic underdevelopment that characterize the world's poorest countries. Development and deployment of new vaccines to prevent infectious diseases in developing countries have therefore become high priorities in the global health agenda. http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v11/n4s/full/nm1225.html Clemens, J. D. Thinking downstream to accelerate the introduction of new vaccines for developing countries. Vaccine (2003). 21 Suppl 2: S114-115 Introduction of new vaccines into public health programs in developing countries requires 'translational research', initiated even during the phase of vaccine development, to generate the evidence base necessary for rational public health decision- making. Translational research encompasses assessments of the local disease burden, demonstration projects of vaccines in realistic public health programs, analysis of the economic impact of vaccine introduction, assessment of community and policy-maker perceptions about the importance of a disease and the need to vaccinate against it, and identification of distribution channels and financial mechanisms for deploying and paying for a new vaccine. In the absence of this background information, even a successful vaccine may risk substantial difficulties and delays in its introduction into programs for the poor in developing countries. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X0300210X Coburn, C. E. Rethinking Scale: Moving Beyond Numbers to Deep and Lasting Change. Educational Researcher (2003). 32(6): 3-12 The issue of “scale” is a key challenge for school reform, yet it remains under-theorized in the literature. Definitions of scale have traditionally restricted its scope, focusing on the expanding number of schools reached by a reform. Such definitions mask the complex challenges of reaching out broadly while simultaneously cultivating the depth of change necessary to support and sustain consequential change. This article draws on a review of theoretical and empirical literature on scale, relevant research on reform implementation, and original research to synthesize and articulate a more multidimensional conceptualization. http://edr.sagepub.com/content/32/6/3.abstract Coltart, C. E., J. P. Souza, et al. Prioritizing WHO normative work on maternal and perinatal health: a multicountry survey. Reprod Health (2011). 8: 30 WHO develops evidence-based guidelines for setting global standards and providing technical support to its Member States and the international community, as a whole. There is a clear need to ensure that WHO guidance is relevant, rigorous and up-to date. A key activity is to ascertain the guidance needs of the countries. This study provides an international comparison of priority guidance needs for maternal and perinatal health. It incorporates data from those who inform policy and implementation strategies at a national level, in addition to targeting those who use and most need the guidance at grassroots level. http://www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content/8/1/30 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Curry, L., L. Taylor, et al. Experiences of leadership in health care in sub- Saharan Africa. Human Resources for Health (2012). 10(33) Leadership is widely regarded as central to effective health-care systems, and resources are increasingly devoted to the cultivation of strong health-care leadership. Nevertheless, the literature regarding leadership capacity building has been developed primarily in the context of high-income settings. Less research has been done on leadership in low-income settings, including sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in health care, with attention to historical, political and sociocultural context. We sought to characterize the experiences of individuals in key health-care leadership roles in sub-Saharan Africa. http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/pdf/1478-4491-10-33.pdf This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Darmstadt, G. L., D. A. Oot, et al. Newborn survival: changing the trajectory over the next decade. Health Policy & Planning (2012). 27(Suppl. 3: A decade of change for newborn survival, policy and programmes (2000–2010): A multi-country evaluation of progress towards scale: 1-5 This editorial introduces the journal supplement in which the seven articles present 'a comprehensive analysis of the changes in newborn care and survival over the last decade at global level, as well as five detailed country assessments undertaken by over 60 experts from governments and multiple organizations, in order to better understand the process of taking solutions to scale and how to accelerate progress towards reductions in mortality and morbidity'. http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/suppl_3/iii1.full Dees, G., B. B. Anderson, et al. Scaling social impact: Strategies for spreading social innovations. Stanford Social Innovation Review Stanford (2004). 1(4): 24-33 "If we are serious about tackling social problems on a large scale, we need to develop more effective tools to address this challenge We hope to expand their conception of the possibilities by encouraging social entrepreneurs to consider different ways of both defining and spreading their innovations before determining whether and how to proceed. Our goal is to help them find the most promising strategies for achieving widespread and timely impact." http://www.ssireview.org/pdf/2004SP_feature_dees.pdf Defo, B. K. The importance for the MDG4 and MDG5 of addressing reproductive health issues during the second decade of life: review and analysis from times series data of 51 African countries. Afr J Reprod Health (2011). 15(2): 9-30 Addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues are central to efforts for reducing childhood and maternal mortality embedded in MDG4 and MDG5. This paper reviews these issues in Africa and uses statistical methods for measuring changes to analyze recent and comparable time series data from 51 African countries. http://www.bioline.org.br/request?rh11017 DeJong, J. A Question of Scale? The Challenge of Expanding the Impact of Non-Governmental Organisations' HIV/AIDS Efforts in Developing Countries. (2001). Horizons Program International HIV/AIDS Alliance " This publication draws on a draft that was written to inform debate at an international seminar held in Windsor, UK, in September 2000 on scaling up NGO HIV/AIDS programmes. Twelve NGOs from around the world attended the seminar and presented their own experiences of scaling up. The report addresses issues such as whether there is a trade-off between expansion and quality, proposes a typology of scaling up in relation to HIV/AIDS, and discusses the risks entailed and special challenges. It incorporates case studies presented at the seminar." http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/csd1201_A_question_of_scale.pdf Di Fabio, J. L. and C. de Quadros. Considerations for combination vaccine development and use in the developing world. Clin Infect Dis (2001). 33 Suppl 4: S340-345 As more vaccines are developed and become available, combination vaccines will provide a way of delivering multiple antigens to avoid multiple injections and complications in the regular immunization schedules. The advantages of combination vaccines are that they decrease the discomfort of vaccine recipients and parents and also reduce the delivery cost of vaccines. We address some of the issues related to the use of combination vaccines in the developing world. Which vaccines are needed? Do developing countries have the appropriate infrastructure to deliver them? Can vaccines become affordable for countries with low incomes? And what is really needed to achieve the goal of providing developing countries with new vaccines of epidemiologic significance in a timely fashion? http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/33/Supplement_4/S340.long Diamond-Smith, N., M. Campbell, et al. Misinformation and fear of side-effects of family planning. Culture, Health & Sexuality (2012). 14(4): 421-433 Fears about the side-effects from family planning are well-documented barriers to use. Many fears are misinformation, while others reflect real experience, and understanding of these is not complete. Using qualitative interviews with women in three countries, this study examines what women feared, how they acquired this knowledge, and how it impacted on decision-making. We aimed to understand whether women would be more likely to use family planning if they were counselled that the side- effects they feared were inaccurate. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2012.664659 Doctor, H. V., S. E. Findley, et al. Using community-based research to shape the design and delivery of maternal health services in Northern Nigeria. Reproductive Health Matters (2012). 20(39): 104-112 Maternal mortality ratios in northern Nigeria are among the worst in the world, over 1,000 per 100,000 live births in 2008, with a very low level and quality of maternity services. In 2009, we carried out a study of the reasons for low utilisation of antenatal and delivery care among women with recent pregnancies, and the socio-cultural beliefs and practices that influenced them. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968808012396158 Duclos, P., J M. Okwo-Bele, et al. Global immunization: status, progress, challenges and future. BMC International Health and Human Rights (2009). 9 (Suppl 1)(S2) The Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) was developed by WHO and UNICEF as a framework for strengthening national immunization programmes and protect as many people as possible against more diseases by expanding the reach of immunization, including new vaccines, to every eligible person. This paper briefly reviews global progress and challenges with respect to public vaccination programmes. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-698X/9/S1/S2 This is an Open Access article in the spirit of the BioMed Central Open Access Charter http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/about/charter/, without any waiver of WHO’s privileges and immunities under international law, convention or agreement. This article should not be reproduced for use in association with the promotion of commercial products, services or any legal entity. There should be no suggestion that WHO endorses any specific organisation or products. The use of the WHO logo is not permitted. This notice should be preserved along with the article’s original URL Dynes, M., S. T. Buffington, et al. Strengthening maternal and newborn health in rural Ethiopia: Early results from frontline health worker community maternal and newborn health training. Midwifery (2012). This paper describes early results from the Community Maternal and Newborn Health (CMNH) training programme of the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership (MaNHEP) project. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613812000071 Ebuehi, O. M. and I. Akintujoye. Perception and utilization of traditional birth attendants by pregnant women attending primary health care clinics in a rural Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria. Int J Womens Health (2012). 4: 25-34 In developing countries, most childbirth occurs at home and is not assisted by skilled attendants. This situation increases the risk of death for both mother and child and has severe maternal and neonatal health complications. The purpose of this study was to explore pregnant women's perceptions and utilization of traditional birth attendant services in a rural Local Government Area in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. http://www.dovepress.com/perception-and-utilization-of-traditional-birth-attendants-by-pregnant- peer-reviewed-article-IJWH Evansa, W. D., L. C. Abromsa, et al. Mobile health evaluation methods: The text4baby case study. Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives (2012). 17(1): 22-29 Mobile phones have been shown effective in several public health domains. However, there are few evaluations of the effectiveness of mobile health in health promotion This evaluation has a theoretical model of behavior change and measures mediators as well as behavioral outcomes. Results will inform how behavioral theory works within mobile health programs. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730.2011.649157#tabModule [...]... and children: the 2012 report (2012) Countdown to 2015: Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival World Health Organization (WHO) UNICEF This report highlights country progress and obstacles to progress—towards achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health It contains a status report on mortality and nutrition; evidence on the scale of perterm birth and. .. E Dmitrievab, et al Text4baby in the United States and Russia: An opportunity for understanding how mHealth affects maternal and child health Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives (2012) 17(Suppl 1): 30-36 Text4baby uses new technology to deliver health messages and engage pregnant women and new mothers in healthy behaviors The authors describe the need for carefully conducted... Well-functioning and accessible health facility and knowledge on mother to child transmission of HIV are a prerequisite for a successful mother to child transmission prevention of HIV However, the determinant factors of pregnant mothers' knowledge towards mother to child transmission of HIV and its prevention is not well studied in Ethiopia and particularly in the present study area A cross-sectional health. .. the methods of the World Health Organization Multicountry Study in Maternal and Newborn Health The main objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of maternal nearmiss cases in a worldwide network of health facilities, evaluate the quality of care using the maternal near-miss concept and the criterion-based clinical audit, and develop the near-miss concept in neonatal health http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/11/286... who produce and disseminate health- related information agree on how best to measure and demonstrate the effect of their work It brings together knowledge about monitoring and evaluating information products and services from dozens of health organizations http://www.k 4health. org/sites/default/files/guide -to- monitoring -and- evaluating -health- information.pdf Swaminathan, H and A Mukherji Slums and malnourishment:... quality and performance of care and the use of critical interventions are useful for shaping improvements in health care and strengthening the contribution of health systems towards the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 The near-miss concept and the criterion-based clinical audit are proposed as useful approaches for obtaining such information in maternal and newborn health care This paper presents the. .. flagging the optimization perspectives on the basis of readily available information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22924286 Geoghegan, T M E Nutrition in the first 1,000 days: State of the world's mothers 2012 (2012) Save the Children The focus of this year's report is on the 171 million children globally who do not have the opportunity to reach their full potential due to the physical and mental... T and L Quam Accelerating the global response to reduce maternal mortality The Lancet (2012) 379(9831): 2025-2026 A preview for the Global Health Transition conference, held in Norway, to consider how to "develop effective health- care systems led and sustained by countries rather than a fragmented web of donors Maternal death and perinatal mortality are 'the canary in the coal mine' for assessing the. .. a crisis in human resources for health and a recent history of civil unrest, Uganda has prioritized Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 for child and maternal survival As part of a multi-country analysis we examined change for newborn survival over the past decade through mortality and health system coverage indicators as well as national and donor funding for health, and policy and programme change... field projects from October 2008 to October 2009 in order to increase understanding of how to integrate human rights principles and approaches into maternal mortality reduction efforts at the national and local levels The projects in India, Kenya, and Peru highlight the positive experiences of applying a human rights-based approach to maternal mortality reduction efforts, and further demonstrate valuable . New resource additions to the IDEAS Maternal and Child Health library during June to September 2012 Below are brief details of the 184 new resources. added to the IDEAS Maternal and Newborn Health Library: A library of around 2,000 resources relating to Maternal and Newborn Health and other topics