Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Piloting a Lean Costing Approach for Family Planning and Maternal Health Services

MOMENTUM Private Healthcare Delivery piloted a 'lean' costing approach to explore the costs and major cost drivers of FP and MH service delivery in the public and private sectors at three sites in Nigeria, Tanzania, and the DRC. This report summarizes the findings from the costing approach and discusses how the results and approach can help inform FP and MH programming.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Program & Technical Resources

Induction and Augmentation of Labor in India: Excessive and Inappropriate Use of Uterotonics In and Out of Health Facilities

This factsheet presents key findings from a systematic review on induction and augmentation of labor in India. The review identified 59 high-quality studies (variable in design, geography, women's profiles, and outcomes). The review highlights key findings, and ways forward based on the high rate of induction and augmentation in this context.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Formative Assessment on Small and Sick Newborn Feeding in Ghana and Nepal

This case study provides an overview of two formative assessments by MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership on current practices, barriers, facilitators, and programmatic approaches affecting the provision of specialized, high-quality nutritional care for small and/or sick newborns (SSNBs) in public health facilities in Ghana and Nepal. These assessments are an important step in expanding the evidence base around SSNB feeding in these contexts and present insightful cross-cutting recommendations to support and/or strengthen breastmilk feeding for SSNBs during inpatient stays and post-discharge.

Publication Date April 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN) and Applications to Family Planning, Reproductive Health, and Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Interventions in Fragile Settings

Numerous approaches have been developed to define the humanitarian-development nexus and more broadly, the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. This report examines the humanitarian-development nexus and its application to health interventions in South Sudan, specifically family planning, reproductive health, and maternal, newborn, and child health (FP/RH/MNCH), concluding with recommendations for stakeholders related to health services, institutional architecture, leadership, financing, coordination, and localization.

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

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 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.

Publication Date March 1, 2024 Webinars

Implementation Considerations of New WHO Recommendations for Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)

On 6 March 2024, the Postpartum Hemorhage (PPH) Community of Practice hosted a webinar with the WHO to share the latest recommendations, released December 2023, on the assessment of postpartum blood loss and use of a treatment bundle for PPH. Experts working to implement these guidelines joined the webinar to share their implementation challenges and solutions.

Publication Date March 1, 2024 Program & Technical Resources

Furthering a Movement: The Perinatal Mental Health Community of Practice

The Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) Community of Practice (CoP) is a global collaborative platform for experts and practitioners working in maternal and newborn health, mental health, and related fields. As an inclusive environment for members to collaborate, the PMH CoP will connect individuals interested in PMH, empower them to collaborate to address the challenges and questions surrounding global PMH, and disseminate the latest information about PMH. This briefer shares more about the purpose and structure of the CoP as well as how to join this exciting community. The PMH CoP is supported by MOMENTUM Country and Global leadership.