Save The Mothers Conference

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    Building Responsive Communities to Maternal and Child Health–Multi Disciplinary Approach
    (2018-02-23) Musinguzi, Jotham
    Keynote address of save the mothers reunion conference by Dr. Musinguzi Jotham is a Public Health Physician and an advocate for inclusion of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS on the international development agenda. Currently, he is the Director General of the National Population Council. He worked with PPDA as the Africa Regional Director. Dr. Musinguzi is an
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    Community Mobilization Through Facilitated Participatory Learning and Action Groups for Maternal and Newborn Health in Buikwe District
    (2018-02-23) Nabacwa, Ssonko; Mulawa, Zac; Bosa, Richard; Bulega, Milly; Nabuuma, Bernadette; Sentumbwe, Olive
    Background This project tested the Participatory Learning Action (PLA) cycle in mobilizing the community for improved maternal and newborn health. The project, promoted by the World Health Organization highlighted the importance of health promotion interventions that strengthen individual, family, and community capacity to contribute to improved health while addressing the quality of care in facilities in Buikwe District. Community mobilization was realized through facilitated participatory learning and action (PLA) cycles with women’s groups in rural settings with low access to maternal health services. Community mobilization through facilitated PLA cycles work by building the capacities of communities to organize and take action to address the social determinants of health that underpin maternal and newborn health. Objective The study aimed at reviewing the feasibility of community mobilization through facilitated PLA cycles for improved maternal and newborn health in Buikwe district Methods The PLA cycle follows a four- phase approach that involves joint efforts in identifying problems, solutions, implementing and assessing program impact together. Ten women from two sub-counties in Buikwe received training in the implementation of the PLA cycle within their communities. These facilitators then led women’s groups in utilising the PLA cycle to identify and address maternal and newborn health challenges in their communities Results A total of 15 women groups were formed which utilised the four phase PLA cycle in identifying and addressing maternal and newborn health challenges in Buikwe district. They generated several local health solutions and brought about an increased demand for maternal and newborn health services. Conclusion The PLA guide is an empowerment and advocacy tool for improved maternal and newborn Health. However, the integrated nature of this approach necessitates an understanding of priorities set in mobilizing communities, the role played by local leadership and the resources needed for improved maternal and newborn health.
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    The Enhancement of East African Universities’ Contribution towards the Attainment of Millennium Development Goal 5-Improving Maternal Health
    (Bradford Print Shoppe, 2011) Froese, Jean Chamberlain; Ssonko, Mary; Angina, Bonaventure Michael Okello; Namuyonga, Faith; Nakabembe, Eve; Kakembo, Fredrick
    Improving maternal health was recognized by the international community as a key component of the United Nations 2000 Millennium Summit initiative to reduce worldwide hunger, poverty and disease. All participating countries agreed to work toward the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG-5) in particular, which focuses on reducing the global maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent by 2015 compared to 1990 rates. According to recent estimates, exciting progress towards reducing maternal mortality has been made in many developing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia where the majority of maternal deaths occur. Despite this important progress however, an estimated 358,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide in 2008. Worse still, developing countries account for 99 percent, or 355,000, of all deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia account for 87 percent of global maternal deaths, (313,000 deaths). It has also been estimated that, in sub-Saharan Africa, a woman’s risk of dying from preventable or treatable complications of pregnancy and childbirth over the course of her life time is 1 in 31, compared to only 1 in 4300 in developed regions (United Nations, 2010).1 Sub-Saharan African countries have much to gain from the realization and achievement of the MDGs. This takes the involvement of different stakeholders including universities. However, what role(s) are the universities in Sub-Saharan Africa playing in educating students about MDGs and, especially, MDG-5? Given that current and future Sub-Saharan Africa University students are considered to be the elites in their countries and will become decision makers and activists, a study on the Enhancement of East African Universities’ Contribution towards the Attainment of MDG 5 reveals that universities can, and should play a pivotal role in accelerating progress.
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    Health Worker and Community Experiences in Using the Toll Free Line to Access Maternal and Newborn Health Services in Central Uganda: A Qualitative Study
    (2018-02-23) Mwase, Ivan; Hutchins, Meredith; Ware, Marissa; Barageine, Justus K.
    Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa which has the highest number of maternal deaths by region. However, most of these deaths are preventable and can be addressed with low cost, effective interventions with an understanding of the three delays associated with maternal morbidity and mortality. In order to address these deadly delays. Save the Mothers (STM) through the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI) program operates the Toll Free Line (TFL) service that has been influential in addressing the first delay in seeking care. The service, which has been piloted within four health facilities connects vulnerable mothers with quality healthcare facilities at no cost to them. Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of health workers and community members in utilising the TFL to access maternal and newborn health services in four health facilities in central Uganda. Method: This qualitative study design employed focus group discussions (FGDs) each with 11 participants. At each of the four pilot health centres, two FGDs were held: one with health workers and another with community members. Each session lasted 45-60 minutes moderated by one STM researcher who utilised a discussion guide with a set of predetermined open-ended questions to facilitate flow of discussion. Interviews were transcribed and translated to English from audio recordings. Data analysis was performed using the framework method and QDA DATA Miner Lite software Results: A total of ten focus group discussions were conducted; two health worker, four female, and four mixed gender. The TFL service was pivotal in improving health worker and community relations, relaying timely health advice, ensuring prompt response to emergency obstetric complications, acted as a referral system and facilitated inquiries on availability of vital medications. However, the service was also hindered by several mischiefs: un-answered calls, language differences, poor connectivity/network and misuse/abuse. Conclusion: The TFL service is a low-cost, high-impact intervention which increases the capacity for health care delivery and can be duplicated in other low resource settings. It empowers community members to make an informed decision to seek care and allows health workers to prepare for incoming emergent labouring mothers thus saving many lives.
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    The Maama & Family Project-A Maternal and Newborn Health Project in Mayuge District
    (2018-02-23) Kyangwa, Moses; Jairus, Mwase; Fischer, Clara Nelly
    This presentation aims at improving maternal and new-born health outcomes in Mayuge district, working with the local community to enhance their own health, Training community health workers (CHW), Reducing infections and increase antenatal attendance through the distribution of birth kits. Background: The Mama & Family Project follows a joint statement by WHO and UNICEF that recommends a home visit strategy to reduce newborn deaths. Founded in 2014 in a collaboration between UDHA and SOGH, the Mama & Family Project was implemented at Maina health centre, Mayuge District to increase access to health care services for mothers and newborns in the project catchment area. Objective The project aims at lowering maternal and newborn mortality, increasing the knowledge of maternal and newborn health as well as the uptake of health services such as antenatal care visits and facility based deliveries. Methods: The project is based on a community model of two prenatal and three postnatal home visits tested and evaluated by the Uganda Newborn Study (UNEST) conducted in Iganga and Mayuge districts. Community Health Workers (CHWs) identify pregnant women in the community and provide two prenatal and three postnatal home visits (on days 1, 3 and 7 after birth). During these visits, the CHW provides counselling on safe newborn care practices and family planning. They also identify low birth weight babies and provide referrals to nearby health facilities. In addition, to promote hygienic practices during birth, single-use birth kits (Maama kits) containing two pairs of sterile gloves, cotton wool, sterile blade, a preparation sheet, a plastic sheet, soap, cord tires and a new child growth and postnatal clinic card. These kits are given to the pregnant women on their fourth antenatal visit, acting as an incentive for the women to attend ANC four times. Results: During the first three years the project has reached over 2000 pregnant women within the project catchment area and employed 12 community health workers. The number of women who attend antenatal care visits has also doubled. Conclusion: Empowering local community members, in particular women, to become change leaders in their villages, has led to improved maternal and newborn outcomes.
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    Mothers Heart Uganda Mutoto Mbale
    (2018-02-23) Mbulamani, Jeremiah
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    Rapid scale-up and deployment of a district-wide emergency maternal-child referral network during a national medical strike
    (2018-02-23) Mukalu, Mohamed Makuuza; Cutts, Jacqueline; Omulangira, Mali Ronald; Ho, Vivian
    Background: In November 2017, a nationwide strike of healthcare workers commenced to protest unfavourable working conditions in Uganda’s public healthcare system. The strike left many hospitals abandoned and life-saving surgical care unavailable. As leaders of a community-based organization, Safe Mothers, Safe Babies (SAFE), focused on improving maternal and perinatal survival, we shared the valid concerns of health workers but also cared about the mothers and newborns that would die from treatable complications during the strike. Objective: To mitigate anticipated mortality, we sought to expand our existing maternal and child emergency referral network to serve the entire Iganga district. Methods: SAFE convened the “Humanitarian Emergency Response [HER] Network” to facilitate partnership and response with other organizations. Two of the partners were private healthcare facilities with surgical capabilities. Marie Stopes furnished vouchers to reduce delivery costs in private facilities whereas volunteers the +256 Youth Platform managed referrals. We distributed our central dispatch number to all health facilities, made radio announcements, prepared motorcycle ambulances, a car ambulance and prepared our own existing health facility to handle increasing patients. Results: Within three weeks, we responded to 15 maternal emergency calls, performed over 17 deliveries in our own facility. Since the end of the strike, the network has rescued an additional six mothers and five babies through emergency caesarean sections. Conclusion: Collaboration between district leadership and organizations to create contingency plans for obstetric care during humanitarian crises is essential and can be effective at reducing maternal mortality. The elements of the HER Network included: distribution of our central dispatch number to all health facilities, posting it outside the hospital, and making radio announcements so the public knew about the strike and how to reach the ambulance service for maternal and perinatal emergencies. (2) Preparing our three motorcycle ambulances and obtaining a car ambulance from a local politician. And (3) Preparing our own existing health facility to handle an increasing patient load. Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is a non-governmental organization that works in East-Central Uganda. SAFE works in five districts with the bulk of their work in Iganga District and directly serves around 160,000 people. Their work focuses on improving maternal and child health by focusing on the Three Delays through a community-based participatory approach.
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    Save the Mothers International (What’s going on?)
    (2018-02-23) Chamberlin, Jean Froese
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    The story of Advocacy for Better Health
    (2018-02-23) Dombo, Moses
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    Targeted Interpersonal Communication for Adolescent Girls and Young Women for Integrated Maternal Health Services in Uganda: Evidence from DREAMS Project 2016-2017
    (2018-02-23) Birungi, Rebecca; Nabirye, Davinah; Zikusooka, Amos; Batamwita, Richard; Kankulya, Richard; Kagguma, Edward; Kimbowa, Musa; Coutinho, Sheila
    Background Uganda has the highest population of young people below 18 years in the world. Among these adolescents, contraceptive use is still low at 11% compared to the unmet need (30.4%) for family planning services. This increases the risk of HIV transmission as well as unwanted teenage pregnancies. Uganda embraced the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDSfree, Mentored, and Safe women (DREAMS) initiative together with implementing partners to address the these challenges. Objective: Within the DREAMS initiative, USAID/Communication for Health Communities (CHC) focuses on the provision of technical support and spearheading Social Behavioural Change Communication Interventions (SBCC). Methods: CHC supported development of participatory health communication materials and tools and the training of peers on communication skills. CHC worked with village health teams, girl mentors, and implementing partners to reach these adolescents using an integrated IPC approach which included home visits, one-on-one dialogues, small group discussions, and youth bashes. During the intervention, we provided information, motivation and referral to HIV, family planning and other reproductive health services. Results: A total of 16,732 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) were reached during IPC activities between April 2016 and December 2017. A total of 96,975 AGYWs received HIV testing tested during the project implementation July 2016 to June 2017. The positivity rate reduced from 3% to 2% for AGs and 6% to 5 % for YWs. This was attributed to the HIV prevention packages offered and SBCC pro-health behaviours of condom use and reduction in multiple concurrent partners. Female condom usage increased by 20% among AGs and by 95% among YWs. Conclusion: Interpersonal communication was key in promoting behavioural change for the adolescent girls and young women in the DREAMS initiative.