Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Current Approaches to Following Up Women and Newborns After Discharge from Childbirth Facilities: A Scoping Review

The postpartum period is critical for the health and well-being of women and newborns, but there is limited research on the most effective methods of post-childbirth follow-up. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from high-, middle-, and low-income countries on approaches to following up individuals after discharge from childbirth facilities. The scoping review identified multiple follow-up methods after discharge, ranging from home visits to self-administered electronic questionnaires. The studies demonstrated that post-discharge follow-up of women and newborns was feasible, well received, and important for identifying postpartum illness or complications that would otherwise be missed.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Program & Technical Resources

Introduction of the Safe Childbirth Checklist in Fragile Areas in Mali

The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) is a patient safety tool that consolidates essential birth practices to prevent the major causes of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. The tool has been implemented in the southern regions of Mali, with demonstrable results. To address maternal and newborn mortality in areas where MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience works, the SCC was implemented in 23 health facilities in the Gao district beginning in December 2022. Post-training follow-up found that 21 facilities used the tool on 1,298 out of 1,698 deliveries (76 percent). 95 percent of users reported that the tool was very useful in demonstrating that SCC use in fragile settings may be feasible and useful to help reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Rapid Assessment of Data Systems for COVID-19 Vaccination in the WHO African Region

The MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project collaborated with WHO to develop an article discussing a study done by WHO AFRO between May and July 2022 to identify gaps in COVID-19 vaccine data management in countries in the African region. Published in the Epidemiology and Infection journal by Cambridge University Press this article summarizes the key findings of the assessment and discusses its implications for routine immunization.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Beyond Constructs and Principles: Addressing Gender-Related Barriers to High, Equitable Immunization Coverage

This article was published in the Frontiers in Global Women's Health journal in April 2023. The article discusses how USAID's MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project recognized the need to mainstream gender into its global and country level work, incorporating gender considerations into all phases of the program cycle, from assessment to activity design, strategic communications, monitoring, evaluation, and continuous learning. The authors describe approaches the project has applied to build capacity of its own global and country level staff to both recognize the gender dimensions inherent in common obstacles to immunization and ways to address them.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Labor Induction and Augmentation Practices in India: How the Use of Uterotonic Medications Affects Stillbirth, Neonatal Mortality, and Use of Cesarean Deliveries Research Consolidation Bundle

Overmedicalization of childbirth is a growing global problem, increasing the use of medical interventions and costs without a clear health benefit and often putting both mother and baby at risk. Stillbirth, early birth asphyxia, and neonatal death remain major concerns in India and the association between these health outcomes and the use of uterotonics to induce and augment labor is an important topic to explore. The story deck serves as an advocacy tool to build momentum for additional targeted research; the overview report outlines how the story deck can be used and shares next steps to engage in this work.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 About MOMENTUM

Strengthening Routine Immunization and Polio Eradication in DRC

This one-pager brief summarizes how MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity is supporting routine immunization capacity building, gender and equity, partnership strengthening, data quality and management, and polio eradication in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 About MOMENTUM

Strengthening COVID-19 Vaccination in DRC

This brief one-pager summarizes how MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity supported COVID-19 vaccination planning and coordination, demand generation and community engagement, data quality and management, service delivery, and integration into routine immunization health services in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Program & Technical Resources

COVID-19 Vaccination Integration Assessment

As many countries transition away from the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must consider the long-term plans and future sustainability of COVID-19 vaccination. The USAID-funded MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity and Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator projects conducted a qualitative assessment in seven countries on the status and plans for COVID-19 vaccination integration into routine immunization and primary health care, and the health system more broadly. Each country report summarizes findings and lessons learned from key informant interviews and focus group discussions conducted with stakeholders involved in implementing integration activities at national and sub-national levels.

Publication Date March 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Strategies for Deploying Pediatric Death Audit to Improve Quality of Care

Pediatric death audits are used to improve health care quality and outcomes for children. In this report, MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership examined the use of death audits in Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zambia. These experiences suggested both challenges in the use of death audits for improving pediatric quality care as well as options to begin developing effective systems that incorporate audits, even in low-resource settings.

Publication Date March 1, 2024 Program & Technical Resources

Health in Fragile Settings: A Health-Sensitive Conceptual Model of Fragility

This brief presents a health-sensitive conceptual model and typology of fragility, with the aim of improving MOMENTUM’s understanding of fragility and how it impacts health and, in turn, strengthens health programming. The conceptual model and typology proposed here are intended as internal guidance for USAID and USAID partnerships/projects and are designed to inform fragility assessments and contextual analysis as well as monitoring, evaluation, & learning approaches, conflict sensitivity, and exit strategies.