Search

The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) of Kenya was upgraded to improve access to healthcare for impoverished households, expand universal health coverage, and boost the uptake of essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services. However, premiums may be unaffordable for the poorest households. The Innovative Partnership for Universal Sustainable Healthcare (i -PUSH) programme targets low-income women and their households to improve their access to and utilization of quality healthcare, including RMNCH services, by providing subsidized, mobile phone-based NHIF coverage in combination with enhanced, digital training of community health volunteers and upgrading of health facilities. This study evaluated whether expanded NHIF coverage increased the accessibility and utilization of quality basic RMNCH services in areas where i -PUSH was implemented using a longitudinal cluster randomized controlled trial in Kakamega, Kenya. A total of 24 pair-matched villages were randomly assigned either to the treatment or the control group. Within each village, 10 eligible households (i.e. with a woman aged 15–49 years who was either pregnant or with a child <4 years old) were randomly selected. The study applied a difference-in-difference methodology based on a pooled cross-sectional analysis of baseline, midline and endline data, with robustness checks based on balanced panels and Analysis of Covariance methods. The analysis sample included 346 women, of whom 248 had had a live birth in the 3 years prior to any of the surveys, and 424 children aged 0–59 months. Improved NHIF coverage did not have a statistically significant impact on any of the RMNCH outcome indicators at midline nor endline. Uptake of RMNCH services, however, improved substantially in both control and treatment areas at endline compared to baseline. For instance, significant increases were observed in the number of antenatal care visits from baseline to midline (mean = 2.62–2.92, P  < 0.01) and delivery with a skilled birth attendant from baseline to midline (mean = 0.91–0.97, P  < 0.01). Expanded NHIF coverage, providing enhanced access to RMNCH services of unlimited duration at both public and private facilities, did not result in an increased uptake of care, in a context where access to basic public RMNCH services was already widespread. However, the positive overall trend in RMNCH utilization indicators, in a period of constrained access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that the other components of the i -PUSH programme may have been beneficial. Further research is needed to better understand how the provision of insurance, enhanced community health volunteer training and improved healthcare quality interact to ensure pregnant women and young children can make full use of the continuum of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) can help adolescents acquire crucial knowledge and skills to achieve their full potential, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with higher rates of negative sexual and reproductive outcomes. While many low- and middle-income countries have developed CSE curricula, little is known about how these are implemented in the classroom. This multi-country mixed-methods study analysed challenges to the implementation of national CSE curricula in schools in Ghana, Kenya, Peru and Guatemala, based on surveys of secondary school principals, teachers and students aged 15-17 years, and in-depth interviews with central and local government, NGOs and youth organisations. In all four countries, inadequate teacher training remained a major hurdle to effective implementation, manifesting in teacher discomfort and inaccurate messaging. This was compounded by a lack of comprehensive teaching resources. CSE classes were focused mainly on biology at the expense of contraception, gender and rights, despite students' desire for greater coverage of these topics. Teaching methods lacked interactive activities necessary to develop skills and values. Findings offer useful lessons to improve school-level implementation in these and other countries facing similar challenges. Increasing teacher training and distributing comprehensive CSE materials responsive to adolescents' needs remain priorities in all countries.

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a key component of efforts to improve sexual and reproductive outcomes for young people. While many governments have established policies and curricula for CSE, there are no quantitative measures of the quality of their implementation in schools. We describe the construction of a school-level index to measure CSE implementation quality using data from Peru, Guatemala, Kenya and Ghana for validation. The composite index represents seven key components of a successful programme: range of topics, values imparted, teaching methods, teacher training, resources available, monitoring and evaluation, and the school environment. These components are combined into two sub-indices (curriculum content and implementation context), which together provide a summary index of implementation quality. We present scores for the seven components, the two sub-indices and the summary index for each country. Ghana scored highest on the summary index, while Guatemala scored lowest, but country rankings varied within the different components. The paper discusses the implications of the findings for improving school-based CSE in these countries. An assessment of the validity and reliability of the index indicates it can be used in other settings and could be a useful tool for educationalists, researchers and programme implementers to measure CSE implementation quality.

Acute malnutrition in children under 5 years is persistent in Eastern Africa's arid and semiarid lands. This study aimed to identify the drivers of acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu counties, Kenya. This was a population‐based longitudinal mixed‐methods observational study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected at Wave 1, but only quantitative data were collected during follow‐up. Participants were a representative sample of children and their primary caregivers from households with children under 3 years at Wave 1. Anthropometric measurements of all children under 5 years in the sampled households were taken at Wave 1 (May to July 2021), and one child under 3 years was randomly selected for follow‐up about every 4 months over 2 years for six data collection waves. The study also collected data on sociodemographics; child feeding practices and morbidity; household water and food insecurity; shocks; coping strategies, social safety nets and economic safeguards; water, sanitation and hygiene; women's decision‐making and food consumption. Qualitative data were collected through community dialogues, focus group discussions, in‐depth interviews, photovoice and key informant interviews with mothers and fathers with children under 5 years, community leaders, county officials and staff of nongovernmental organisations. Data collection is complete and analysis is ongoing. The analysis includes thematic analysis of qualitative data and descriptive and multi‐variable regression analyses of quantitative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate whether sub-Saharan African countries have succeeded in reducing wealth-related inequalities in the coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health interventions. Methods We analysed survey data from 36 countries, grouped into Central, East, Southern and West Africa subregions, in which at least two surveys had been conducted since 1995. We calculated the composite coverage index, a function of essential maternal and child health intervention parameters. We adopted the wealth index, divided into quintiles from poorest to wealthiest, to investigate wealth-related inequalities in coverage. We quantified trends with time by calculating average annual change in index using a least-squares weighted regression. We calculated population attributable risk to measure the contribution of wealth to the coverage index. Findings We noted large differences between the four regions, with a median composite coverage index ranging from 50.8% for West Africa to 75.3% for Southern Africa. Wealth-related inequalities were prevalent in all subregions, and were highest for West Africa and lowest for Southern Africa. Absolute income was not a predictor of coverage, as we observed a higher coverage in Southern (around 70%) compared with Central and West (around 40%) subregions for the same income. Wealth-related inequalities in coverage were reduced by the greatest amount in Southern Africa, and we found no evidence of inequality reduction in Central Africa. Conclusion Our data show that most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have succeeded in reducing wealth-related inequalities in the coverage of essential health services, even in the presence of conflict, economic hardship or political instability. [phrase omitted] [phrase omitted] Objectif Determiner si les pays d'Afrique subsaharienne sont parvenus a reduire l'impact des inegalites de richesse sur la prise en charge des interventions de sante reproductives, maternelles et infantiles. Methodes Nous avons analyse des donnees d'enquetes menees dans 36 pays regroupe en sous-regions (Afrique centrale, Afrique de l'Est, Afrique australe et Afrique de l'Ouest). Au moins deux enquetes devaient dater d'apres 1995. Nous avons calcule l'indice de prise en charge composite en fonction de plusieurs parametres essentiels d'interventions de sante maternelle et infantile. Nous avons egalement adopte l'indice de richesse divise en quintiles, du plus pauvre au plus nanti, afin d'etudier l'impact des inegalites de richesse dans cette prise en charge. Nous avons quantifie les tendances par rapport au temps, en calculant l'evolution annuelle moyenne de l'indice a l'aide de la regression des moindres carres ponderes. Enfin, nous avons evalue le risque attribuable a la population pour mesurer la contribution de la richesse a l'indice de prise en charge. Resultats Nous avons remarque des differences considerables entre les quatre regions, avec un indice median de prise en charge composite allant de 50,8% en Afrique de l'Ouest a 75,3% en Afrique australe. Les inegalites liees a la richesse etaient tres repandues dans toutes les sous-regions; les plus fortes ont ete observees en Afrique de l'Ouest, les plus faibles en Afrique australe. Le revenu absolu n'est pas un indicateur valable car nous avons constate une meilleure prise en charge dans la sous-region d'Afrique australe (environ 70%) que dans celles d'Afrique centrale et d'Afrique de l'Ouest (environ 40%) pour des revenus equivalents. La majorite des inegalites de prise en charge liees a la richesse ont diminue en Afrique australe, et nous n'avons trouve aucune preuve de reduction des inegalites en Afrique centrale. Conclusion Nos donnees montrent que la plupart des pays d'Afrique subsaharienne ont reussi a attenuer les inegalites de prise en charge liees a la richesse pour les services de sante essentiels, meme en cas de conflit, de difficultes economiques ou d'instabilite politique. [phrase omitted] Objetivo Investigar si los paises del Africa subsahariana han logrado reducir las desigualdades relacionadas con la riqueza en la cobertura de las intervenciones sanitarias relativas a la salud reproductiva, materna, neonatal e infantil. Metodos Se analizaron los datos de las encuestas de 36 paises, agrupados en las subregiones de Africa central, oriental, meridional y occidental, en los que se habian realizado por lo menos dos encuestas desde 1995. Se calculo el indice compuesto de cobertura, en funcion de los parametros esenciales de las intervenciones sanitarias relativas a la salud maternoinfantil. Se adopto el indice de riqueza, dividido en quintiles de mas pobres a mas ricos, para investigar las desigualdades de cobertura relacionadas con la riqueza. Se cuantificaron las tendencias con el tiempo al calcular el cambio anual medio del indice por medio de una regresion por minimos cuadrados ponderados. Tambien se calculo el riesgo atribuible a la poblacion para medir la contribucion de la riqueza al indice de cobertura. Resultados Se observaron grandes diferencias entre las cuatro regiones, con un indice compuesto medio de cobertura que oscilaba entre el 50,8 % para el Africa occidental y el 75,3 % para el Africa meridional. Las desigualdades relacionadas con la riqueza prevalecian en todas las subregiones y eran mayores en el Africa occidental y menores en el Africa meridional. Los ingresos absolutos no eran un factor de prediccion de la cobertura, ya que se observo una mayor cobertura en las subregiones del sur (alrededor del 70 %) en comparacion con las subregiones central y occidental (alrededor del 40 %) para los mismos ingresos. Las desigualdades de cobertura relacionadas con la riqueza se redujeron en mayor medida en el Africa meridional, y no encontramos pruebas de reduccion de la desigualdad en el Africa central. Conclusion Estos datos muestran que la mayoria de los paises del Africa subsahariana han logrado reducir las desigualdades relacionadas con la riqueza en la cobertura de los servicios sanitarios esenciales, incluso en presencia de conflictos, dificultades economicas o inestabilidad politica., Introduction Reaching all women and children with essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health interventions is a critical part of universal health coverage, and is represented by the Global Strategy [...]

The successful implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programmes in schools depends on the development and implementation of strong policy in support of CSE. This paper offers a comparative analysis of the policy environment governing school-based CSE in four low- and middle-income countries at different stages of programme implementation: Ghana, Peru, Kenya and Guatemala. Based on an analysis of current policy and legal frameworks, key informant interviews and recent regional reviews, the analysis focuses on seven policy-related levers that contribute to successful school-based sexuality education programmes. The levers cover policy development trends; current policy and legal frameworks for sexuality education; international commitments affecting CSE policies; the various actors involved in shaping CSE; and the partnerships and coalitions of actors that influence CSE policy. Our analysis shows that all four countries benefit from a policy environment that, if properly leveraged, could lead to a stronger implementation of CSE in schools. However, each faces several key challenges that must be addressed to ensure the health and wellbeing of their young people. Latin American and African countries show notable differences in the development and evolution of their CSE policy environments, providing valuable insights for programme development and implementation.

Universal access to reproductive health services entails strengthening health systems, but requires significant resource commitments as well as efficient and effective use of those resources. A number of international organizations and governments in developing countries are putting efforts into tracking the flow of health resources in order to inform resource mobilization and allocation, strategic planning, priority setting, advocacy and general policy making. The UNFPA/NIDI-led Resource Flows Project ("The UNFPA/NIDI RF Project") has conducted annual surveys since 1997 to monitor progress achieved by developing countries in implementing reproductive health financial targets. This commentary summarizes the Project experiences and challenges in gathering data on allocation of resources for reproductive health at the domestic level in sub-Saharan African countries. One key lesson learnt from the Project experience is the need for strengthening tracking mechanisms in sub-Saharan African countries and making information on reproductive health resources and expenditures available, in particular the private sector resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Globally, the majority of births happen in urban areas. Ensuring that women and their newborns benefit from a complete package of high-quality care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period present specific challenges in large cities. We examine health service utilisation and content of care along the maternal continuum of care (CoC) in 22 large African cities., Methods: We analysed data from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) since 2013 in any African country with at least one city of ≥ 1 million inhabitants in 2015. Women with live births from survey clusters in the most populous city per country were identified. We analysed 17 indicators capturing utilisation, sector and level of health facilities and content of three maternal care services: antenatal care (ANC), childbirth care and postnatal care (PNC), and a composite indicator capturing completion of the maternal CoC. We developed a categorisation of cities according to performance on utilisation and content within maternal CoC., Results: The study sample included 25 326 live births reported by 19 217 women. Heterogeneity in the performance in the three services was observed across cities and across the three services within cities. ANC utilisation was high (>85%); facility-based childbirth and PNC ranged widely, 77%-99% and 29%-94%, respectively. Most cities showed inconsistent levels of utilisation and content across the maternal CoC, Cotonou and Accra showed relatively best and Nairobi and Ndjamena worst performance., Conclusion: This exploratory analysis showed that many DHS can be analysed on the level of large African cities to provide actionable information about the utilisation and content of the three maternal health services. Our comparative analysis of 22 cities and proposed typology of best and worst-performing cities can provide a starting point for extracting lessons learnt and addressing critical gaps in maternal health in rapidly urbanising contexts., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)