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Research and implementation interactions in a social accountability study: Utilizing guidance for conducting process evaluations of complex interventions
No full textBackground: In recent years, researchers and evaluators have made efforts to identify and use appropriate and innovative research designs that account for the complexity in studying social accountability. The relationship between the researchers and those implementing the activities and how this impacts the study have received little attention. In this paper, we reflect on how we managed the relationship between researchers and implementers using the United Kingdom Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance on process evaluation of a complex intervention. Main body: The MRC guidance focuses on three areas of interaction between researchers and stakeholders involved in developing and delivering the intervention: (i) working with program developers and implementers; (ii) communication of emerging findings between researchers/evaluators and implementers; and (iii) overlapping roles of the intervention and research/evaluation. We summarize how the recommendations for each of the three areas were operationalized in the Community and Provider driven Social Accountability Intervention (CaPSAI) Project and provide reflections based on experience. We co-developed various tools, including standard operating procedures, contact lists, and manuals. Activities such as training sessions, regular calls, and meetings were also conducted to enable a good working relationship between the different partners. Conclusions: Studying social accountability requires the collaboration of multiple partners that need to be planned to ensure a good working relationship while safeguarding both the research and intervention implementation. The MRC guidance is a useful tool for making interaction issues explicit and establishing procedures. Planning procedures for dealing with research and implementers’ interactions could be more comprehensive and better adapted to social accountability interventions if both researchers and implementers are involved. There is a need for social accountability research to include clear statements explaining the nature and types of relationships between researchers and implementers involved in the intervention
Incidence and characteristics of stillbirths before and during the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic
No full textObjective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of stillbirths during the initial wave of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and whether or not this differed from the incidence and characteristics of stillbirths that occurred in the pre-pandemic period. Study design: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of pregnant individuals who delivered stillbirths during two different time periods: March–September in 2017, 2018, and 2019 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic period) and March–September 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic period). Results: No difference in the rate of stillbirths was found between the two time periods. The women who experienced a stillbirth during the pre-pandemic period attended on average more prenatal visits than women who experienced a stillbirth during the pandemic period (p \u3c .05). During the pandemic period, a higher proportion of stillbirths were suspected to be due to poorly controlled hypertension (p =.04). Conclusions: The incidence of stillbirth during the pandemic period was similar to that during the pre-pandemic period; however, there were more stillbirths that occurred due to poorly controlled hypertension, a potentially preventable cause of stillbirth, during the pandemic period when compared to those of the pre-pandemic period. While the impact of the disease process of COVID-19 on stillbirth remains uncertain, the change in the provision of prenatal care during the pandemic period may have had unintended consequences with respect to the prevention and management of hypertension and the risk of potentially preventable stillbirths
Assessment of overseas labor migration systems in Bangladesh
Get PDFBangladesh is a significant labor-sending country, with about 7.8 million Bangladeshis working abroad. Major destinations for migrant workers are the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Female migrants represent 12 percent of the migration flow, with a majority engaged as domestic workers. Migration to GCC countries is characterized by short-term temporary migration, migration of low- and semi-skilled workers, laborers with low literacy level, debt-financed migration, and often migration through unofficial channels. The overseas labor recruitment industry often leaves migrants susceptible to human trafficking, forced labor, and modern slavery. Also, many migrants return empty-handed and with huge debt. The Population Council in partnership with the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS) undertook a study to better understand survivors’ and stakeholders’ perspectives on the kinds of policies, programs, and initiatives that could facilitate safer overseas labor migration for Bangladeshi migrant workers. A qualitative study was conducted with returned migrants in Faridpur and Munshiganjs, Bangladesh. These locations also served as an assessment of an intervention for economic and social reintegration. A stakeholder consultation provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the study findings and brainstorm about research, program gaps, and recommendations
Using audience segmentation approaches to inform integrated family planning and maternal health programs in Niger
Get PDFUnderstanding the specific behavioral determinants and barriers to health-seeking for reproductive and maternal health services is critical to developing social and behavior change (SBC) programs that can best address the needs of the community. Effective SBC interventions can incorporate audience segmentation, the practice of dividing an audience into subgroups based on demographic, psychographic, and/or behavioral factors to develop tailored SBC approaches that are most likely to resonate with each audience subgroup. This brief presents study results of audience profiles for women of reproductive age in Niger with a focus on three reproductive and maternal health behaviors. It is intended to inform integrated SBC activities implemented by the USAID-funded Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) II partners to improve health outcomes
L’engagement des médias de l’Afrique de l’Ouest Francophone dans l’atteinte des objectifs du Partenariat de Ouagadougou : Le concours d’excellence en production médiatique des journalistes et blogueurs
No full textTiming of non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate COVID-19 transmission and their effects on mobility: A cross-country analysis
No full textIn the early stages of a pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) that encourage physical distancing and reduce contact can decrease and delay disease transmission. Although NPIs have been implemented globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, their intensity and timing have varied widely. This paper analyzed the country-level determinants and effects of NPIs during the early stages of the pandemic (January 1st to April 29th, 2020). We examined countries that had implemented NPIs within 30 or 45 days since first case detection, as well as countries in which 30 or 45 days had passed since first case detection. The health and socioeconomic factors associated with delay in implementation of three NPIs—national school closure, national lockdown, and global travel ban—were analyzed using fractional logit and probit models, and beta regression models. The probability of implementation of national school closure, national lockdown, and strict national lockdown by a country was analyzed using a probit model. The effects of these three interventions on mobility changes were analyzed with propensity score matching methods using Google’s social mobility reports. Countries with larger populations and better health preparedness measures had greater delays in implementation. Countries with greater population density, higher income, more democratic political systems, and later arrival of first cases were more likely to implement NPIs within 30 or 45 days of first case detection. Implementation of lockdowns significantly reduced physical mobility. Mobility was further reduced when lockdowns were enforced with curfews or fines, or when they were more strictly defined. National school closures did not significantly change mobility
Assessing engagement of adolescents and young adults (AYA) in HIV research: A multi-method analysis of a crowdsourcing open call and typology of AYA engagement in sub-Saharan Africa
No full textEngagement of adolescents and young adults (AYA) in HIV research is increasing in many settings. We organized a crowdsourcing open call to solicit examples of how AYA have been engaged in HIV research in Africa and to develop an engagement typology. We formed a steering committee, promoted the open call, organized judging and recognized finalists. We used a multi-methods approach to identify emerging themes and measure engagement. We received 95 entries from individuals in 15 countries; 74 met the eligibility criteria. More than three-quarters of entries were from AYA (55/74, 74%). Four themes characterized AYA engagement: (1) AYA were co-creators in the HIV research process. (2) AYA were involved in community-level capacity building. (3) AYA were co-leaders in minor risk research. (4) AYA used digital methods to enhance engagement. Our open call identified diverse methods of AYA engagement, which can enhance strategies used to reach AYA in African HIV studies
From Data to Action: Informing Menstrual Health Management Programs
Get PDFThe Population Council’s Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center and Evidence for Gender and Education Resource (EGER) program hosted the second virtual webinar of its From Data to Action series, “Informing Menstrual Health Management Programs” in February 2022. This document provides a recap of the webinar, which featured a global systematic review and results from a randomized controlled trial in Kenya on menstrual health management (MHM) programs. ZanaAfrica shared perspectives on program implementation and how the evidence is shaping their approach
Élaboration du tableau de bord A3 des indicateurs relatifs aux adolescents et du tableau de bord des écarts entre les sexes
No full textL\u27Atlas des Adolescents pour l\u27Action (A3) est une suite d\u27outils qui résume la vie et les besoins des adolescents du monde entier afin de promouvoir une prise de décision fondée sur des données probantes. Grâce à ses données accessibles et faciles à saisir en un seul clic, l\u27A3 comble le fossé entre les décideurs et les données factuelles afin d\u27éclairer les politiques et les programmes. Le tableau de bord des indicateurs relatifs aux adolescents et le tableau de bord des écarts entre les sexes sont deux tableaux de bord simples mais dynamiques qui donnent un aperçu de la vie des adolescents, filles et garçons, vivant dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire (PRFM) dans neuf domaines thématiques de bien-être. Le tableau de bord des indicateurs relatifs aux adolescents montre comment les adolescents, filles ou garçons, se débrouillent dans chaque thème, au niveau mondial et infranational, ainsi que les liens entre les indicateurs des différents domaines. Le tableau de bord des écarts entre les sexes vous permet de comparer les écarts par domaine et par indicateur, à l\u27échelle mondiale et nfranationale. Ce dossier présente la méthodologie utilisée pour élaborer ces deux tableaux de bord.
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The Adolescent Atlas for Action (A3) is a suite of tools that summarizes the lives and needs of adolescents around the world to promote evidence-based decision-making. Through accessible and easy-to-grasp data just one click away, the A3 bridges the gap between decisionmakers and evidence to inform policies and programs. The Adolescent Indicators dashboard and Gender Gaps dashboard are two simple but dynamic dashboards that provide insights on the lives of adolescent girls and boys living in low- and middle income countries (LMICs) across 9 thematic domains of wellbeing. The Adolescent Indicators dashboard showcases how adolescent girls or boys are faring under each theme, globally and subnationally, as well as how the indicators across domains are interlinked. The Gender Gaps dashboard allows you to compare gaps by domain and indicator, both globally and subnationally. This brief elaborates on the methodology for developing both dashboards