Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health

Youth in Uganda face many Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) risks such as unmet need for contraception, which leads to unplanned pregnancies that result in unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections. However, awareness and uptake of SRH services among the youth remains sub-optimal. Challenges to the provision of SRH services include lack of privacy and confidentiality, financial barriers, and knowledge gaps. Innovative solutions are critical to addressing these challenges.

This project targets children in low-income population living in slums, deprived environment and stressful environment and exposed to a number of risk factors. Exposure to various risk factors create an unfavorable context for the development and mental health of children and their mothers. The proof of concept project tests a novel, intensive home visitation program by community health functionary for the pregnant women, infants and children under-two years living in poor urban areas.

High maternal mortality rates (MMR) persist in Indonesia, especially in rural areas. In Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) MMR is 271/100,000 live births (2010), higher than national average of 220/100,000. Antenatal Care (ANC) is provided at primary health centers (Puskesmas) by midwives who are not equipped with diagnostic tools, e.g. haemoglobin (Hb) testing is only available at major hospitals. Long distances, costs, poor quality equipment, and lack of awareness hinder pregnant women’s access to ANC

To assess the acceptability and feasibility of teaching primary care health workers in 4 frontier counties in Kenya to use a nonverbal pictorial scale to screen, detect, and document peri- and post-partum depression (PPD) among mothers who access services at their health facilities.

In Indonesia, where 10% of pregnancies occur in women age 15-24 (BPS, 2015), sex-ed is not taught as one subject, only parts are addressed in science and religion classes Moreover, parents also lack the skills and confidence to provide sex-ed to their children. Early childhood exposure to sexuality education contributes to a lower rate of teen pregnancies, improved HIV/AIDS knowledge and helps address other problems.

Forced migration due to global conflict, renders women & children especially vulnerable to sexual & gender based violence (SGBV) that requires immediate & long term psychological & gynecological health services: contraception, sexual health & reproductive rights; prevention & treatment of mood, anxiety, trauma disorders & feelings of helplessness & desperation. Healing & prevention are dependent on empowering women to cope with current circumstances & defend their sexual/psychological rights.

SRH services are limited and primarily target married persons. The youth in Palestine lack awareness, re-sources, avoid seeking help from professionals about SRH and get it from relatives and friends. If they need help they are concerned about confidentiality and security. Meager research and data is available. The society perceives SRH as a taboo and sensitive topic. The right to SRH is not will recognized. Emphasis is needed to address SRH among youth, to increase their awareness

As perinatal and neonatal care are advancing, more preterm babies are surviving and being discharged from neonatal intensive care units (NICU) to be cared for by parents. Due to complicated health problems, premature babies require extended and special follow up care after discharge. However, follow up care for such high-risk babies is not available in most LMICs. Innovative solutions are urgently needed to ensure the optimal care and best outcomes for preterm survivors in these countries.

7.5% children under age 5 develop severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in urban India (1). SAM reduces chances of survival [mortality rate: 73-187 per 1000 (2)], hinders optimal physical growth and is associated with sub optimal brain development leading to long lasting negative impact on cognitive ability, school performance and future earnings. Lack of access to crucial lifesaving information for caregivers during acute inpatient treatment and later during rehabilitation at home leads to relapse.

Unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and family planning (FP) information and services among female factory workers in Vietnam is high, leaving workers unaware of their SRH rights and options and vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Existing health clinics within factories do not provide adequate SRH and FP services and workers often have difficulty accessing public and private clinics due to associated financial and time costs.