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Identifying practices and ideas to improve the implementation of maternal mortality reduction programmes: findings from five South Asian countries

  1. J Hussein1,
  2. D Newlands1,
  3. L D’Ambruoso1,
  4. I Thaver2,
  5. R Talukder3,
  6. G Besana1

Article first published online: 15 DEC 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02457.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 117, Issue 3, pages 304–313, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hussein, J., Newlands, D., D’Ambruoso, L., Thaver, I., Talukder, R. and Besana, G. (2010), Identifying practices and ideas to improve the implementation of maternal mortality reduction programmes: findings from five South Asian countries. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117: 304–313. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02457.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Immpact/Ipact, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

  2. 2

    Mustashaar, Social Development Advisors, Ahmed Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

  3. 3

    Golpark, Kolkata, India

*J Hussein, Immpact/Ipact, University of Aberdeen, Health Sciences Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. Email j.hussein@abdn.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 JAN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 15 DEC 2009
  3. Accepted 30 October 2009. Published Online 15 December 2009.

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Keywords:

  • Good practices;
  • maternal mortality;
  • programme implementation

Please cite this paper as: Hussein J, Newlands D, D’Ambruoso L, Thaver I, Talukder R, Besana G. Identifying practices and ideas to improve the implementation of maternal mortality reduction programmes: findings from five South Asian countries. BJOG 2010;117:304–313.

Objective  The successful implementation of programmes to reduce maternal mortality is constrained by a ‘know–do’ gap: the disparity between what is known and the application of that knowledge in policy and practice. This study identified innovations, practices and ideas aimed to improve project and programme implementation.

Design  Cross-sectional.

Setting  Five South Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

Sample  Sixteen projects and programmes, and 100 key informants.

Methods  In-depth review of documents, key informant interviews and focus-group discussions.

Main outcome measures  Innovations and ideas to improve programme implementation, and their perceived effects.

Results  Delegation of duties to intermediate-level health workers, incentivisation of health workers, providing the means to overcome financial barriers for accessing care, quality improvements and knowledge transfer were examples of ideas put into practice to improve programme implementation. There was a perception that these improved service use and availability, but objective evidence was lacking.

Conclusions  Some innovations, practices and ideas are supported by evidence of effect, and could be replicated, whereas others have not been formally evaluated. Testing of these innovations is required before more widespread adoption can be recommended, although experiences should be shared to narrow the ‘know–do’ gap, even though the evidence on beneficial effects remains unclear.

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