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BackgroundThis research prioritization aimed to identify major research gaps in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (MNCAH) to help mitigate the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe adapted the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative methodology. We defined scope, domains, themes and scoring criteria. We approached diverse global experts via email to submit their research ideas in MNCAH and MNCAH-related cross-cutting/health systems area. We curated the research ideas as research questions (RQs) and sent them to the consenting experts for scoring via the online link. For each RQ, the research priority score (RPS) was calculated as an average of individual criterion scores and ranked based on RPS in each area.ResultsWe identified top-ranked 10 RQs in each maternal, newborn, and child and adolescent health and 5 in the cross-cutting/health systems area. In maternal health, indirect effects on care, measures to improve care, health risks and outcomes, and preventing and managing SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 disease were priority RQs. In newborn health, clinical characterization and managing SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 disease, mode of transmission and interventions to prevent transmission were the focus. For child and adolescent health, top-ranked RQs were indirect effects on care, clinical status and outcomes, interventions to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 disease, and educational institute-related RQs. The cross-cutting RQs were the effects of the pandemic on availability, access, care-seeking and utilization of MNCAH services and potential solutions.ConclusionsWe call on partners, including governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, and donors, to address this urgent research agenda.

Background: The global population impacted by humanitarian crises continues to break records each year, leaving strained and fractured health systems reliant upon humanitarian assistance in more than 60 countries. Yet little is known about implementation of maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) within crisis-affected contexts. This scoping review aimed to synthesise evidence on the implementation of MPDSR and related death review interventions in humanitarian settings., Methods: We searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature in English and French published in 2016-22 that reported on MPDSR and related death review interventions within humanitarian settings. We screened and reviewed 1405 records, among which we identified 25 peer-reviewed articles and 11 reports. We then used content and thematic analysis to understand the adoption, appropriateness, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability of these interventions., Results: Across the 36 records, 33 unique programmes reported on 37 interventions within humanitarian contexts in 27 countries, representing 69% of the countries with a 2023 United Nations humanitarian appeal. Most identified programmes focussed on maternal death interventions; were in the pilot or early-mid implementation phases (1-5 years); and had limited integration within health systems. While we identified substantive documentation of MPDSR and related death review interventions, extensive gaps in evidence remain pertaining to the adoption, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability of these interventions. Across humanitarian contexts, implementation was influenced by severe resource limitations, variable leadership, pervasive blame culture, and mistrust within communities., Conclusions: Emergent MPDSR implementation dynamics show a complex interplay between humanitarian actors, communities, and health systems, worthy of in-depth investigation. Future mixed methods research evaluating the gamut of identified MPDSR programmes in humanitarian contexts will greatly bolster the evidence base. Investment in comparative health systems research to understand how best to adapt MPDSR and related death review interventions to humanitarian contexts is a crucial next step., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)