Estimating the Impact of Universal Coverage of Key Maternity Services on Maternal and Neonatal Health Outcomes in Malawi: An Individual-Based Modelling Study

Despite substantial progress, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality remain high in Malawi due to variable coverage and quality of health services. The impact universal coverage of key maternity services (UHCMS) could have in Malawi on health outcomes is currently unknown. To estimate this, we developed a systems-based, data-driven, context-specific model of maternal and neonatal health in Malawi.

Avoid Equipment Graveyards: Rigorous Process to Improve Identification and Procurement of Effective, Affordable, and Usable Newborn Devices in Low-Resource Hospital Settings 

Millions of newborns die annually from preventable causes, with the highest rates occurring in Africa. Reducing neonatal mortality requires investment to scale hospital care, which includes providing appropriate technology to care for small and sick newborns. Medical devices designed for high-resource settings often fail to withstand conditions in low-resource hospitals, including severe humidity, dust, frequent user turnover, complex maintenance, lack of stable power, or difficulty sourcing expensive consumables. Rigorous evaluation protocols are needed to identify effective, affordable, rugged, and easy-to-use medical devices appropriate for low-resource settings.

Participant Retention in Mobile WACh NEO, a Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Interactive Text Messaging on Neonatal Mortality in Kenya 

A significant number of neonatal deaths occur because of delays in recognition of illness and decisions to seek care. Studies of community-based interventions to decrease these delays face challenges with collecting data on neonatal outcomes as well as retention of participants, which makes intervention effectiveness difficult to ascertain. Mobile WACh NEO is a recently completed randomized controlled trial in Kenya evaluating the effect of a two-way SMS messaging program between mothers and nurses on neonatal mortality. Our aim is to report the study communication strategies and resulting participant retention and yield of neonatal outcomes reported.