The Role of Men in Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Burkina Faso

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-184
Author(s):  
Janet Perkins ◽  
Cecilia Capello ◽  
Aminata Bargo Maiga ◽  
Yanogo Matié ◽  
Amélie Eggertswyler ◽  
...  

Background. As critical household and community gatekeepers in Burkina Faso, men play an important role in ensuring the care of women and newborns during the perinatal period. Enfants du Monde, Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are supporting the national Ministry of Health to implement the health promotion pillar of the maternal and new born health (MNH) strategy.Objectives. Working with men to help them become active participants in MNH is one of the axes of these efforts. Methods. Interventions aiming at influencing the role of men in MNH have been implemented since 2010. Foremost among these is the implementation of a strategy entitled Pougsid Songo, or “Model Husbands”. Within this strategy, designed by health workers and community members, men who are exhibiting positive behaviours in supporting women are selected by local leaders and trained to educate other men in the community on care for women and newborns, on birth preparedness and complication readiness, on danger signs and postnatal family planning (FP) and on the need to accompany women to health services. Results. Preliminary results suggest that in particular due to the “Model Husbands” strategy, men are participating more actively in MNH. Notably, men are starting to accompany women to health facilities for antenatal care regularly and they are more aware of care practices for women during and after pregnancy and for newborns. In addition, utilization of MNH and FP services is increasing. Conclusions. These results suggest that interventions are successfully influencing men’s roles in MNH which is contributing to improved care of women and newborns within the household and increased utilization of MNH services.  

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Janet Perkins ◽  
Cecilia Capello ◽  
Aminata Bargo ◽  
Carlo Santarelli

Community participation in decision-making within the health sector is an essential component in advancing efforts toward primary health care (PHC). Since 2006, Enfants du Monde, a Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO), in collaboration with the local NGO Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso (FDC/BF), has been supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to include communities in decision-making related to maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. Notably, participatory community assessments (PCA) are conducted to provide a platform for community members to discuss MNH needs and be involved in the decision-making within the health sector. During the PCAs, participants identify and prioritize needs and propose solutions to improve MNH, solutions which are then integrated in the annual district health action plan. Integrated interventions include: promotion of birth preparedness and complication readiness; training health care providers in counselling skills; building awareness of men on MNH issues and their capacity to support women; and strengthening community bodies to manage obstetrical and neonatal complications. The inclusion of these interventions has contributed to the advancement of PHC in three regions in Burkina Faso.     


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-159
Author(s):  
Janet Perkins ◽  
Aminata Bargo ◽  
Cecilia Capello ◽  
Carlo Santarelli

Assuring the provision of person-centred care is critical in maternal and newborn health (MNH). As a component of the national strategy to improve MNH, Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, supported by Enfants du Monde, La Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire/Burkina Faso and UNFPA, is implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework for Working with Individuals, Families and Communities (IFC) to improve MNH. As a first step in district implementation, participatory community assessments were conducted. These assessments consistently revealed that poor interactions with healthcare providers posed one important barrier preventing women from seeking MNH services. In order to address this barrier, healthcare providers were trained to improve their interpersonal skills and in counselling women. During 2011-12 a total of 175 personnel were trained over a 5-day course developed using a WHO manual. The course was met with enthusiasm as providers expressed their need and desire for such training. Immediate post-test results revealed an impressive increase in knowledge and anecdotal evidence suggests that training has influenced provider’s behaviours in their interactions with women. In addition, health care providers are taking concrete action to build the capabilities of women to experience pregnancy and birth safely by engaging directly with communities.  While early findings are promising, an evaluation will be necessary to measure how the training has influenced practices, whether this translates into a shift of perceptions at community level and ultimately its contribution toward promoting person-centred care in Burkina Faso.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Sushma Acharya ◽  
Madhusudhan Ghimire ◽  
Maushami Ghimire

  Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth is considered as a physiological process and it is associated with certain risks to the life of mother and newborn baby. Birth-preparedness and complication readiness is a comprehensive strategy to improve maternal and newborn health. This study was done to observe impact of educational status and Parity of mother-in-laws on awareness and practices regarding birth preparedness and complication readiness.   Methods: The study was conducted in Banke district. The duration of study was from August 2011 to August 2012. Descriptive cross-sectional study was followed. One hundred mothers-in-law were selected through simple random procedure. Semi-structure interview schedule was used to collect information.   Results: The mean age of mothers-in-law was 52.33 (SD=8.96) years. Majority (82.0%) mothers-in-law were illiterate with lack of awareness and practice about birth preparedness and complication readiness.   Conclusion: Inadequate practices on birth preparedness and complication readiness were prevalent in illiterate mothers-in-laws.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117
Author(s):  
Tapas Mazumder ◽  
Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman ◽  
Emdadul Hoque ◽  
Md. Al Mahmud ◽  
Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique ◽  
...  

Background: In Bangladesh, women and newborns continue to face elevated risks around the time of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Applying a people-centered approach to maternal and newborn (MNH) services is a priority in such contexts to increase appropriate use of services and improve the health of women and newborns. In 2009, Enfants du Monde and PARI Development Trust began supporting the Ministry of Health at local level to implement birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) for improving MNH in Netrokona district, Bangladesh. Objective: To assess the contribution of the BPCR intervention in advancing people-centered MNH care in Netrokona district, Bangladesh. Methods:We conducted 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs), one focus group discussion (FGD) and four group discussions with different stakeholders. In addition, a household survey was conducted with 725 women (intervention n=444, control n=281) and 317 of their husbands (intervention n=178, control n=139) at baseline and with 737 women (intervention n=442, control n=295) and 732 husbands at endline.Results: The BPCR intervention was co-designed through a consultative process with national and local stakeholders, ensuring the reflection of local context. Training health care providers to improve their counseling skills allowed them to apply effective BPCR counseling during ANC visits and be responsive to women’s situations and individual needs. In addition, discussion on BPCR in households and courtyard meetings provoked families’ and communities’ engagement in MNH. Consequently. there was significant increase across most indicators related to BPCR practice among women and husbands’ involvement between baseline and endline.Discussion: The BPCR intervention was successful in advancing people-centered MNH care by empowering women and increasing the engagement of men, families and communities in MNH care. Our study findings are coherent with the findings of studies conducted in similar settings. Conclusions: Carefully co-designed BPCR interventions should be further expanded within Bangladesh and beyond in order to advance people-centered care and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1700
Author(s):  
Melissa Chalada ◽  
Charmaine A. Ramlogan-Steel ◽  
Bijay P. Dhungel ◽  
Christopher J. Layton ◽  
Jason C. Steel

Uveal melanoma (UM) is currently classified by the World Health Organisation as a melanoma caused by risk factors other than cumulative solar damage. However, factors relating to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) susceptibility such as light-coloured skin and eyes, propensity to burn, and proximity to the equator, frequently correlate with higher risk of UM. These risk factors echo those of the far more common cutaneous melanoma (CM), which is widely accepted to be caused by excessive UVR exposure, suggesting a role of UVR in the development and progression of a proportion of UM. Indeed, this could mean that countries, such as Australia, with high UVR exposure and the highest incidences of CM would represent a similarly high incidence of UM if UVR exposure is truly involved. Most cases of UM lack the typical genetic mutations that are related to UVR damage, although recent evidence in a small minority of cases has shown otherwise. This review therefore reassesses statistical, environmental, anatomical, and physiological evidence for and against the role of UVR in the aetiology of UM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tumbwene Mwansisya ◽  
Columba Mbekenga ◽  
Kahabi Isangula ◽  
Loveluck Mwasha ◽  
Eunice Pallangyo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Continuous professional development (CPD) has been reported to enhance healthcare workers’ knowledge and skills, improve retention and recruitment, improve the quality of patient care, and reduce patient mortality. Therefore, validated training needs assessment tools are important to facilitate the design of effective CPD programs. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. Participants were healthcare workers in reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health (RMNH) from seven hospitals, 12 health centers, and 17 dispensaries in eight districts of Mwanza Region, Tanzania. The training needs analysis (TNA) tool that was used for data collection was adapted and translated into Kiswahili from English version of the Hennessy-Hicks’ Training Need Analysis Questionnaire (TNAQ). Results In total, 153 healthcare workers participated in this study. Most participants were female 83 % (n = 127), and 76 % (n = 115) were nurses. The average age was 39 years, and the mean duration working in RMNH was 7.9 years. The reliability of the adapted TNAQ was 0.954. Assessment of construct validity indicated that the comparative fit index was equal to 1. Conclusions The adapted TNAQ appears to be reliable and valid for identifying professional training needs among healthcare workers in RMNH settings in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to test the use of the TNAQ in broader healthcare systems and settings.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Czerwińska-Osipiak ◽  
Beata Pięta ◽  
Justyna Kamińska ◽  
Halina Nowakowska

Abstract Introduction. The issue of high-risk pregnancy has been widely discussed in the recent years. As a result, many countries have introduced programs to improve perinatal care in order to meet the needs of pregnant women as well as those going into labour. Much less attention was dedicated to health and social circumstances of women in the postpartum period. The World Health Organisation developed a document (WHO Recommendations on Postnatal Care of the Mother and Newborn, 2013) in which it clearly defines recommendations formulated for the professionals who are care providers to the child and the mother after birth. The authors of the report indicate that the postnatal period is crucial for both the mothers and their children, and the lack of proper care given to them may lead to deterioration of their health and even death. According to the code of professional practice, the Polish midwife identifies and determines individuals’ requirements as well as health needs, recognizes nursing difficulties, and, effectively plans and oversees their care. The Polish guideline for the highest standard of medical care during pregnancy, the delivery, the postpartum period and the neonatal care is the Regulation of the Health Minister from 20th September 2012. Aim. This paper collected current and adopted recommendations regarding postpartum care with an emphasis on the significant role of the midwife.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Larsen ◽  
Nigel Hoggard ◽  
Fiona M McKevitt

The management of low-grade glioma (LGG) is shifting as evidence has emergedthat refutes the previously commonplace imaging-based ‘watch and wait’ approach, in favour of early aggressive surgical resection. This coupled with the recent 2016 update to the World Health Organisation Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System is changing LGG imaging and management. Recently in Practical Neurology the contemporary management of low-grade glioma and the changes to this grading system were discussed in detail. 1 In this complementary article, we discuss the role of imaging in the diagnosis, surgical planning and post-treatment follow-up of LGG. We describe the principles of imaging these tumours and use several cases to highlight some difficult scenarios.


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