Addressing the continuum of maternal and newborn care in Ghana: implications for policy and practice
This article analyses the data across a mixed-methods study of the factors impacting maternal and neonatal care in northern Ghana. The stillbirth and neonatal death study (SANDS) was conducted in 2010 and included both quantitative (N = 20 497) and qualitative data collection (N = 253) to explore the issues associated with the continuum of reproductive health care. Findings were compared against an adaptation of the WHO/UNICEF framework for integrated maternal and newborn care and used to generate concrete recommendations for clinicians, policymakers and programmers across the continuum of care, from pregnancy through deli...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Engmann, C. M., Hodgson, A., Aborigo, R., Adongo, P. L., Moyer, C. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Progress in improving provincial plans for nutrition through targeted technical assistance and local advocacy in Vietnam
Vietnam has been decentralizing nutrition planning to provinces, which could help with local relevance and accountability. Assessment in 2009 found a continuing top-down approach, limited human capacity, and difficulty in integrating multiple sectors. Alive and Thrive (A&T) provided targeted assistance and capacity-building for 15 provincial plans for nutrition (PPNs). We aimed to (i) assess PPN content and quality improvements 2009–2014, and (ii) explain processes through which change occurred. Data consisted of interview-based assessments of provincial planning processes, annual PPN assessments, and tracking of...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Harris, J., Nguyen, P. H., To, Q., Frongillo, E. A., Menon, P. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
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Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Tags: Spanish Abstracts Source Type: research
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Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Tags: French Abstracts Source Type: research
本期摘要
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Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Tags: Chinese Abstracts Source Type: research
Resumenes en esta edicion
(Source: Health Policy and Planning)
Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 23, 2016 Category: Health Management Tags: Spanish Abstracts Source Type: research
Resumes dans ce numero
(Source: Health Policy and Planning)
Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 23, 2016 Category: Health Management Tags: French Abstracts Source Type: research
本期摘要
(Source: Health Policy and Planning)
Source: Health Policy and Planning - October 23, 2016 Category: Health Management Tags: Chinese Abstracts Source Type: research
Sparking, supporting and steering change: grounding an accountability framework with viewpoints from Nigerian routine immunization and primary health care government officials
Existing accountability efforts in Nigeria primarily serve as retrospective policing. To enable accountability to guide change prospectively and preemptively, we drew from a literature review to develop a framework that highlights mutually reinforcing dimensions of accountability in health systems along three counterbalancing axes. The axis of power sparks change by wielding ‘sticks’ that curb the potential abuse of power, but also by offering ‘carrots’ that motivate constructive agency. The axis of ability supports change by enabling service delivery actors with formal rules that appropriately expa...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: George, A. S., Erchick, D. J., Zubairu, M. M., Barau, I. Y., Wonodi, C. Tags: Methodological Musings Source Type: research
Barriers and facilitators to health information exchange in low- and middle-income country settings: a systematic review
The exchange and use of health information can help healthcare professionals and policymakers make informed decisions on ways of improving patient and population health. Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have however failed to embrace the approaches and technologies to facilitate health information exchange (HIE). We sought to understand the barriers and facilitators to the implementation and adoption of HIE in LMICs. Two reviewers independently searched 11 academic databases for published and on-going qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies and searched for unpublished work through the Google search...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Akhlaq, A., McKinstry, B., Muhammad, K. B., Sheikh, A. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Opening the 'black box of performance-based financing in low- and lower middle-income countries: a review of the literature
This article aims to summarize current knowledge on how PBF works, set out what still needs to be investigated and formulate recommendations for researchers and policymakers from donor and recipient countries alike. Drawing on an extensive systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journals, we analysed 35 relevant articles. To guide us through this variety of studies, point out relevant issues and structure findings, we use a comprehensive analytical framework based on eight dimensions. The review inter alia indicates that PBF is generally welcomed by the main actors (patients, health workers and health managers), yet ...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Renmans, D., Holvoet, N., Orach, C. G., Criel, B. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Effects of over-the-counter sales restriction of antibiotics on substitution with medicines for symptoms relief of cold in Mexico and Brazil: time series analysis
We evaluated changes in the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), non-opioid analgesics and cough and cold medicines and its relation with the use of antibiotics after the over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic sales restrictions in Mexico and Brazil. IMS Health provided retail quarterly data from the private sectors in Mexico and Brazil from the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2013. Data of each active substance of antibiotics, easily accessible medicines perceived as antibiotics substitutes (cough and cold medicines, analgesics and NSAIDs—the latter two being combined in the analyses), and...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Santa-Ana-Tellez, Y., Mantel-Teeuwisse, A. K., Leufkens, H. G. M., Wirtz, V. J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Analyzing demand-side efficiency in global health: an application to maternal care in Vietnam
This article investigates demand-side efficiency in global health—or the efficiency with which health system users convert public health resources into health outcomes. We introduce and explain the concept of demand-side efficiency as well as quantitative methods to empirically estimate it. Using a robust nonparametric form of technical efficiency analysis, we estimate demand side efficiency and its social determinants. We pilot these methods looking at how efficiently pregnant women in Northern Vietnam convert public health resources into appropriate maternal care as defined by national policy. We find that women wh...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Radin, E., Ariana, P., Broekel, T., Tran, T. K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The influence of health system organizational structure and culture on integration of health services: the example of HIV service monitoring in South Africa
Administrative integration of disease control programmes (DCPs) within the district health system has been a health sector reform priority in South Africa for two decades. The reforms entail district managers assuming authority for the planning and monitoring of DCPs in districts, with DCP managers providing specialist support. There has been little progress in achieving this, and a dearth of research exploring why. Using a case study of HIV programme monitoring and evaluation (M&E), this article explores whether South Africa’s health system is configured to support administrative integration. The article draws o...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Kawonga, M., Blaauw, D., Fonn, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Local adaptations to a global health initiative: penalties for home births in Zambia
This study investigates penalties for home births imposed by traditional leaders on women during the implementation of Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL) in Zambia. Forty focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted across four rural districts to assess community experiences of SMGL at the conclusion of its first year. Participants included women who recently delivered at home (3 FGDs/district), women who recently delivered in a health facility (3 FGDs/district), community health workers (2 FGDs/district) and local leaders (2 FGDs/district). Findings indicate that community leaders in some districts—independently of...
Source: Health Policy and Planning - September 24, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Greeson, D., Sacks, E., Masvawure, T. B., Austin-Evelyn, K., Kruk, M. E., Macwangi, M., Grepin, K. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
