Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health

Every year, approximately 2.6 million stillbirths (SB) occur and 20 million low birth-weight (LBW) babies are born worldwide. The vast majority of these cases occur in low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of SB globally and has made the least progress in reducing this number. Similarly, this region has some of the highest rates of LBW in the world. Recently, several studies have identified sleeping on the back during pregnancy as a potential risk factor for having SB or LBW baby.

Fetal heart rate is the most important signal of distress and millions of births in Africa happen with no monitoring. Fetal monitors must be rugged, reliable and not dependent on electricity. Canadian and African researchers are partnering to test a low-cost heart monitor powered by human energy"

Incidence of post-operative infection in developing countries occurs in 5 to 50 percent of patients. Neonatal infection rates are 3 to 20 times higher than in industrialized nations. This project will supply low cost sterilizers and provide education for health workers sterilizing surgical instruments, with a focus on improving operating room infection control practices and reducing the incidence of post-operative infections in West African countries such as Guinea and Republic of the Congo. For more information visit http://www.spedc.org/.

Low-birth-weight (LBW) is a major adverse pregnancy outcome in resource-poor countries which is highly associated with biomass fuel’s exposure during cooking. To address this problem, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) propose a “100-dollar-kitchen” with an improved cookstove for resource-poor settings. If proven successful, this exposure-effect intervention will be a pioneering innovation in reducing LBW in resource-limited societies. Follow International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh on Twitter @icddr_b"

Globally 60% of pregnant women are at risk of malaria infection in pregnancy, placing the lives of both the mother and fetus at risk. Our project aims to improve fetal growth through dietary supplementation of L-arginine, an amino acid essential for placental development that is reduced in malaria. Follow Andrea Conroy on Twitter @AndreaLConroy"

Every year, more than one million of an estimated 15 million babies born preterm die from preterm-related complications, and many that do survive face life-long disabilities or health complications. A pessary (silicone ring) placed around the cervix (during the second part of the pregnancy) in high-risk mothers may help prevent prematurity. This project’s goal is to adapt to resource-low countries, validate and then disseminate this technique. For more information visit http://www.crc.chus.qc.ca/.

Low levels of the vitamin thiamin (B1) in the diet of breastfeeding mothers in Southeast Asia results in widespread beriberi disease in their infants, causing heart failure and thousands of child deaths.  In Cambodia alone, the problem kills about 700 children per year.  The project will introduce fortified fish sauce to mothers’ diets, a simple, cost-effective and sustainable way to raise maternal blood and breast milk thiamin levels, helping to lower the rate of infantile beriberi.

Pneumonia is a major cause of child mortality globally. Yet life-saving oxygen therapy is challenging to administer in remote areas. Our bold idea is to develop and test solar powered oxygen concentrators. Starting with abundant, freely available resources, we can use the sun to extract oxygen from air to rescue children with pneumonia. Follow Michael Hawkes on Twitter @MichaelHawkesMD"