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 February 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Participatory Approaches to Programme Design, Planning and Early Implementation: Experiences From a Safe Surgery Project in Nigeria

MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics is a global project that strengthens surgical ecosystems through partnership with country institutions. In Nigeria, the project implements in Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Sokoto states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on surgical obstetrics, holistic fistula care and female genital mutilation/cutting prevention and care. The project utilized participatory approaches during its design, planning and early implementation phases. Well-established state and national systems, structures, policies and guidelines enable this programming approach. Since communication between institutional actors is often limited, these approaches necessitate building and maintaining relationships and knowledge sharing, which requires a significant up-front time investment that must be balanced with donor/partner desires for rapid deliverables. Linking different actors within the health system together through co-creation/co-implementation represents a crucial step in building sustainable country ownership and oversight for surgical ecosystems strengthening interventions.

Publication Date January 1, 2024 About MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM Programs in West Africa: Regional Reference Brief

The West Africa Regional Reference Brief summarizes MOMENTUM’s programs and activities implemented in partner countries to improve equitable access to respectful quality maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health care for all individuals and communities. The brief will be updated periodically as project activities evolve throughout the life of the project.

Publication Date December 1, 2023 Program & Technical Resources

MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics in India: Gender-Integrated Response to Emerging COVID-19 Priorities in India – Health Facility and One Stop Center Posters

These two posters were designed to serve as resources for women and girls facing violence. The health facility poster defines certain types of violence and provides contact information including a helpline, referral to One Stop Centers (OSCs), community or facility-based health workers. The OSC poster describes the services provided by OSCs to survivors. 

Publication Date December 1, 2023 Program & Technical Resources

MOMENTUM Safe Surgery India Gender Integrated Response to Emerging COVID-19 Priorities Technical Briefs and Informational Leaflet

This series of three technical briefs reflects MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics' work on: 1) Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response; 2) Development of a digital mental health app to connect Community Health Workers (CHWs) with mental health services and support to address stress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) Emergency Respiratory Management; and 4) Strengthening Gender-based Violence Referral and Response through Community Radio. A two-page leaflet also provides an overview of the project's response.

Publication Date December 1, 2023 About MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM Projects in Southern Africa: Regional Reference Brief

The Southern Africa Regional Reference Brief summarizes MOMENTUM’s projects and activities in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to improve equitable access to respectful quality maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health care for all individuals and communities. The brief will be updated periodically as project activities evolve throughout the life of the project.

Publication Date December 1, 2023 About MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM Projects in East Africa: Regional Reference Brief

The East Africa Regional Reference Brief summarizes MOMENTUM’s projects and activities in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda to improve equitable access to respectful quality maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health care for all individuals and communities. The brief will be updated periodically as project activities evolve throughout the life of the project.

Publication Date December 1, 2023 Program & Technical Resources

Learning from MOMENTUM: Community Engagement and Systems Strengthening Approaches to Addressing Gender-Based Violence

Published in recognition of the 2023 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign, this brief highlights six innovative approaches—related to community engagement and system strengthening—for addressing GBV. The case studies from three MOMENTUM projects offer practical insights for gender experts, practitioners, and advocates, particularly those working in GBV pre­vention and response, to apply and adapt in their own work.

Publication Date December 1, 2023 Research & Evidence

Learning From Health Systems Strengthening Responses to COVID-19

The global COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems worldwide, examining their resilience in maintaining essential services while preventing and responding to COVID-19. MOMENTUM Knowledge Accelerator conducted a learning synthesis to understand the extent to which three MOMENTUM projects in India and Sierra Leone used health systems strengthening (HSS) approaches in their COVID-19 response activities. Furthermore, the work sought to distill factors that facilitated, or inhibited, the implementation and outcomes of HSS-oriented COVID-19 response activities. Lessons and recommendations can inform future approaches to integrating HSS in outbreak and pandemic responses.

Publication Date November 1, 2023 Program & Technical Resources

Counseling, Informed Consent, and Debriefing (CCD) for Cesarean Section: Hard to Define, Achieve, and Monitor – Key Findings from a Mixed Methods Study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), India, and Nigeria

Counseling, informed consent, and debriefing (CCD) before and after cesarean section comprise important aspects of respectful maternity care. However, prior research indicates significant gaps may exist in these elements of care in many low- and middle-income countries. To better understand attitudes, preferences, and practices related to CCD in the context of both emergency and non-emergency surgical obstetric care, MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics conducted a mixed methods study (including interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and record reviews) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), India, and Nigeria. This fact sheet outlines key findings.