'It takes a village' -- Community-based methods for improving maternal and newborn health

Journal special issue highlights the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership

2014-02-18

(Press-News.org) A series of studies are published in a special supplement that presents results of the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership—a three-year pilot program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with the goal of improving the health of Ethiopian mothers and their newborns. This special issue of the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health is published by Wiley on behalf of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

High mortality rates for pregnant women and newborns continue to be a major health concern in Africa, with Ethiopia being one of the most affected countries. Maternal mortality rates in Ethiopia are more than 650 deaths per 100,000 live births compared with 13 deaths per 100,000 live births in the United States. Among the annual 2.7 million pregnancies in Ethiopia, as many as 18,000 mothers die each year.

Furthermore, prior evidence shows that death among newborns in Ethiopia within the first month of life (neonatal mortality) has had only a moderate decline from 49 to 39 to 37 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000, 2005, and 2011, respectively. "While Ethiopia has reduced under-5 mortality by two-thirds, deaths among newborns within the first month of life still accounts for 63% of all infant deaths and 42% of deaths under age 5," says Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, Frances E. Likis, DrPH, NP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN.

"Nurses, midwives and community-level health providers working together with women, families and community leaders have an opportunity to help save the lives of mothers and babies," explains Lynn Sibley, PhD, RN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, Professor at Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Rollins School of Public Health, and Principal Investigator of the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership. "This special issue provides practitioners with insight into the community-based efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Ethiopia."

The supplement includes 11 articles that document the results of the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership. This initiative strives to improve health care for mothers and newborns in rural Ethiopia by:

improving the capacity and performance of frontline health workers; increasing demand for focused maternal and newborn health care, and improving self-care behaviors; and developing the effectiveness of lead districts to improve health care and services for women and their newborns.

"This collection of articles enhances our knowledge of maternal and child survival in poor, rural communities in developing countries," concludes Dr. Sibley. "Many countries will benefit from understanding how to reduce mortality in mothers and their newborns through community-based interventions."

INFORMATION:

These studies are published in the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the articles may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com

Full citations: Editorial: "Reducing Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Through a Community Collaborative Approach: Introduction to a Special Issue on the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership (MaNHEP)." Marge Koblinsky. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12174).

"Improving Maternal and Newborn Health Care Delivery in Rural Amhara and Oromiya Regions of Ethiopia Through the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership." Lynn M. Sibley, Solomon Tesfaye, Binyam Fekadu Desta, Aynalem Hailemichael Frew, Alemu Kebede, Hajira Mohammed, Kim Ethier-Stover, Michelle Dynes, Danika Barry, Kenneth Hepburn, Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12147).

"Knowledge and Skills Retention Among Frontline Health Workers: Community Maternal and Newborn Health Training In Rural Ethiopia." Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu, Hajira Mohammed, Michelle M. Dynes, Binyam Fekadu Desta, Danika Barry, Yeshiwork Aklilu, Hanna Tessema, Lelissie Tadesse, Meridith Mikulich, Sandra Tebben Buffington and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12146).

"Factors Shaping Interactions among Community Health Workers in Rural Ethiopia: Rethinking Workplace Trust and Teamwork." Michelle M.Dynes, Rob Stephenson, CraigHadley and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12135).

"The Effect of Community Maternal and Newborn Health Family Meetings on Type of Birth Attendant and Completeness of Maternal and Newborn Care Received During Birth and the Early Postnatal Period in Rural Ethiopia." Danika Barry, Aynalem Hailemichael Frew, Hajira Mohammed, Binyam Fekadu Desta, Lelisse Tadesse, Yeshiwork Aklilu, Abera Biadgo, Sandra Tebben Buffington and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12171).

"Improving Coverage of Postnatal Care in Rural Ethiopia Using A Community-based, Collaborative Quality Improvement Approach." Solomon Tesfaye, Danika Barry, Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu, Aynalem Hailemichael Frew, Kim Ethier Stover, Hana Tessema, Lamesgin Alamineh and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12168).

"Use of a Mobile Video Van Show for Maternal and Newborn Health Community Behavior Change in Rural Ethiopia." Binyam Fekadu Desta, Hajira Mohammed, Danika Barry, Aynalem Hailemichael Frew, Kenneth Hepburn, Christine Claypoole,. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12111).

"A Regional Comparison of Distribution Strategies and Women's Awareness, Receipt and Use of Misoprostol in Rural Amhara and Oromiya Regions of Ethiopia." LynnM. Sibley, SydneyA. Spangler, Danika Barry, Solomon Tesfaye, Binyam Fekadu Desta and Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu, Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12136).

"Interpretation of National Policy Regarding Community-Based Use of Misoprostol for Postpartum Hemorrhage Prevention in Ethiopia: A Tale of Two Regions." Sydney A. Spangler, Abebe Gebramariam Gobezayehu, Tewodros Getachew and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12154).

"Building District Level Capacity for Continuous Improvement in Maternal and Newborn Health." Kim Ethier Stover, Solomon Tesfaye, Aynalem Hailemichael Frew, Hajira Mohammed, Danika Barry, Lamesgin Alamineh, Abebe Teshome, Kenneth Hepburn and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12164).

"An Evaluation of Equitable Access to a Community-Based Maternal and Newborn Health Program in Rural Ethiopia." Sydney A. Spangler, Danika Barry and Lynn Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12133).

"A Qualitative Study of Attitudes and Values Surrounding Stillbirth and Neonatal Mortality Among Grandmothers, Mothers, and Unmarried Girls in Rural Amhara and Oromiya Regions, Ethiopia: Unheard Souls in the Backyard." Mitike Molla Sisay, Robel Yirgu, Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu and Lynn M. Sibley. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health; Published Online: February 18, 2014 (DOI: JMWH.12156).

URL Upon Publication: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.2014.59.issue-s1/issuetoc

Author Contact: To speak with Dr. Lynn M. Sibley, please contact lsibley@emory.edu.

About the Journal

The Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health (JMWH) is the official journal of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. This peer-reviewed journal presents new research and current knowledge across a broad range of clinical and interdisciplinary topics including maternity care, gynecology, primary care for women and newborns, public health, health care policy, and global health. With a focus on evidence-based practice, JMWH is dedicated to improving the health care of women throughout their lifespan and promoting excellence in midwifery. For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jmwh.

About the American College of Nurse-Midwives

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the professional association that represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. With roots dating to 1929, ACNM sets the standard for excellence in midwifery education and practice in the United States and strengthens the capacity of midwives in developing countries. Our members are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. ACNM reviews research, administers and promotes continuing education programs, and works with organizations, state and federal agencies, and members of Congress to advance the well-being of women and infants through the practice of midwifery.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global provider of content-enabled solutions that improve outcomes in research, education, and professional practice. Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners.

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa, JWb), has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Mitosis mystery solved as role of key protein is confirmed

2014-02-18

Researchers from Warwick Medical School have discovered the key role of a protein in shutting down endocytosis during mitosis, answering a question that has evaded scientists for half a century. The study, published today in the journal eLife, is the first to outline the role of actin, a protein, in shutting down clathrin-dependent endocytosis during mitosis. Endocytosis is the process by which cells absorb molecules that are too large to pass through the plasma membrane, such as proteins. Clathrin-dependent endocytosis is the most common route for this. Clathrin, a ...

Learning to see better in life and baseball

2014-02-17

With a little practice on a computer or iPad—25 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for 2 months—our brains can learn to see better, according to a study of University of California, Riverside baseball players reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on February 17. The new evidence also shows that a visual training program can sometimes make the difference between winning and losing. The study is the first, as far as the researchers know, to show that perceptual learning can produce improvements in vision in normally seeing individuals. "The demonstration that ...

Outsmarting nature during disasters

2014-02-17

The dramatic images of natural disasters in recent years, including hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and the Tohoku, Japan, earthquake and tsunami, show that nature, not the people preparing for hazards, often wins the high-stakes game of chance. "We're playing a high-stakes game against nature without thinking about what we're doing," geophysicist Seth Stein of Northwestern University said. "We're mostly winging it instead of carefully thinking through the costs and benefits of different strategies. Sometimes we overprepare, and sometimes we underprepare." Stein will ...

Zoonotic diseases and global viral pandemics

2014-02-17

Emergence of new microbes While many endemic infectious diseases of humans have been largely contained, new microbes continue to emerge to threaten human and animal health. Such emerging infectious diseases are not confined to humans and their livestock but extend to wildlife ecosystems; the finely-tuned dynamic balance of which is destabilised by human interventions. The changes in the scale and manner of livestock production and marketing, the increase of global travel and trade including the trade in domestic livestock as well as the pet animal trade, the increasing ...

JCI early table of contents for Feb. 17, 2014

2014-02-17

Neurotensin conjugate provides pain relief in animal models The small peptide neurotensin is a potent regulator of dopamine signaling and can provide dramatic pain relief; however, the blood brain barrier provides a substantial challenge toward clinical use of neurotensin for analgesia. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Philippe Sarret and colleagues at Université de Sherbrooke generated a conjugate of neurotensin with a peptide able to cross the blood brain barrier and evaluated the analgesic effects of this molecule in animal models of pain. The ...

Extensive renewal of the T cell repertoire following autologous stem cell transplant in MS

2014-02-17

WA, Seattle (February 17, 2014) – A new study describes the complexity of the new T cell repertoire following immune-depleting therapy to treat multiple sclerosis, improving our understanding of immune tolerance and clinical outcomes. In the Immune Tolerance Network's (ITN) HALT-MS study, 24 patients with relapsing, remitting multiple sclerosis received high-dose immunosuppression followed by a transplant of their own stem cells, called an autologous stem cell transplant, to potentially reprogram the immune system so that it stops attacking the brain and spinal cord. ...

Finding common ground fosters understanding of climate change

2014-02-17

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Grasping the concept of climate change and its impact on the environment can be difficult. Establishing common ground and using models, however, can break down barriers and present the concept in an easily understood manner. In a presentation at this year's meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Michigan State University systems ecologist and modeler Laura Schmitt-Olabisi shows how system dynamics models effectively communicate the challenges and implications of climate change. "In order to face the ongoing challenges ...

Small non-coding RNAs could be warning signs of cancer

2014-02-17

Small non-coding RNAs can be used to predict if individuals have breast cancer conclude researchers who contribute to The Cancer Genome Atlas project. The results, which are published in EMBO reports, indicate that differences in the levels of specific types of non-coding RNAs can be used to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues. These RNAs can also be used to classify cancer patients into subgroups of individuals that have different survival outcomes. Small non-coding RNAs are RNA molecules that do not give rise to proteins but which may have other ...

New finding points to potential options for attacking stem cells in triple-negative breast cancer

2014-02-17

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — New research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Georgia Regents University finds that a protein that fuels an inflammatory pathway does not turn off in breast cancer, resulting in an increase in cancer stem cells. This provides a potential target for treating triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of the disease. The researchers identified a protein, SOCS3, that is highly expressed in normal cells but undetectable in triple-negative breast cancer. They showed that this protein is degraded in cancers, blocking ...

Religious and scientific communities may be less combative than commonly portrayed

2014-02-17

One of the largest surveys of American views on religion and science suggests that the religious and scientific communities may be less combative than is commonly portrayed in the media and in politics. Only 27 percent of those surveyed said that they viewed science and religion as being in conflict with each other, with about equal percentages of those people "siding with either religion or science," said Rice University sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund at the AAAS Annual Meeting. The survey was commissioned by the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER) ...

A new paradigm in spectroscopic sensing: The revolutionary leap of SERS-optical waveguide integration and ai-enabled ultra-sensitive detection

Pusan National University study highlights the health hazards of ultrafine particles from small home appliances with electric heating coils and brushed DC motors

'It takes a village' -- Community-based methods for improving maternal and newborn health

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: