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 About MOMENTUM

Strengthening Routine Immunization in Benin

This one-pager brief summarizes how MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity is supporting routine immunization demand generation, capacity strengthening, supply chain, and data management in Benin.

Publication Date February 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

South Sudan Community Health Formative Assessment

This assessment provides an in-depth understanding of the strengths, gaps, and opportunities within the existing community health programs implemented under the Boma Health Initiative (BHI) in South Sudan. Findings from this assessment provide information for planning effective health interventions on voluntary family planning (FP), reproductive health (RH); maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN); and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

Publication Date February 1, 2024 Research & Evidence

Community Health Worker Safety, Resilience and Risk Communication Assessment: Three New Program Components

To design and optimize community health programs in fragile settings, it is critical to adapt and enhance existing assessment tools. To ensure its community health programs are relevant and adapted to the multiple challenges faced by communities, health systems and community health workers (CHWs) in fragile settings, MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience has developed three new programs components for the Community Health Worker Assessment and Improvement Matrix (CHW AIM) toolkit: “Systems and Structures for Continuity and Safety during Shocks and Stresses at Community Level,” “Personal Safety and Resilience of CHW,” and “Risk Communication and Community Engagement.” With these additions, MOMENTUM expects to strengthen the role and capacities of CHWs as critical actors in contributing to the resilience of their communities and themselves.

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.