Maternal and Newborn Health Research Roundup – January 2025

1.

Cost-effectiveness of integrated maternal HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B screening opt-out strategies in Nepal: A modelling study 

The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests combining tests to detect HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B during pregnancy to protect mothers and newborns from these diseases. In Nepal, while HIV testing is common, testing for syphilis and hepatitis B is much less frequent. Researchers studied whether combining all three tests during antenatal care is cost-effective. Using models to predict costs and health benefits over 20 years, they found that testing for HIV and syphilis together was very cost-effective, and adding hepatitis B testing was also highly cost-effective. This supports WHO’s idea to integrate these screening tests to catch and treat these diseases early, improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns. (26 December 2024) 

2.

Evaluating a midwifery leadership programme: A process evaluation study 

Researchers evaluated India’s Midwifery Leadership Programme using a process evaluation framework. The study found the program was successfully implemented, with participants reporting increased leadership capacity, improved communication skills, and motivation. Tailoring the program to India’s specific context and including practical assignments helped drive state-level action plans. The research recommends using implementation science frameworks in future evaluations to better understand both the implementation process and the factors influencing program success, which can help design more effective midwifery education initiatives. This work is an example of a proven cost-effective model for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. (2 January 2025)  

3.

Women and children first: Delivering solutions in conflict-affected settings 

This opinion piece addresses the disproportionate impact of violent conflict on women, newborns, and children, emphasizing their vulnerabilities in conflict zones. It highlights the need for resilient, evidence-based solutions to restore maternal, newborn, and child health services in such settings, focusing on coordination between health providers, NGOs, and international organizations. The authors write that effective strategies must prioritize local adaptation, community ownership, and emergency preparedness to address the inequitable health burdens faced by women and children in these environments. (8 January 2025) 

4.

A blended learning approach for capacity strengthening to improve the quality of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services during antenatal and postnatal care in LMICs: A feasibility study 

This study explores the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of a blended learning approach to improve health care providers’ knowledge in Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Blended learning combines online and in-person teaching methods, making education more flexible and accessible. Researchers found that the blended learning program successfully increased participants’ knowledge and understanding, demonstrating its feasibility for large-scale use in low-resource settings. The study also highlighted the program’s cost-efficiency, showing that the approach could be a practical solution for training health workers in regions with limited resources. This research emphasizes the potential of blended learning to improve health outcomes by equipping providers with essential skills. (8 January 2025) 

5.

Revisiting health systems to integrate perinatal mental health into maternal and child health services: Perspectives from research, policy and implementation   

The article discusses the significant issue of poor mental health among women during and after pregnancy, especially in Africa. It highlights that nearly 20% of women in low- and middle-income countries experience common mental disorders, with Africa facing higher rates of adolescent pregnancy, mistreatment during childbirth, and perinatal depression. The authors emphasize the need for health systems to adopt women-centered approaches that address these challenges by integrating mental health services into maternal and child health care. They also stress the importance of supporting health workers’ mental health and implementing cost-effective interventions through political commitment, appropriate policies, investment, collaboration, community involvement, and ongoing research. (10 December 2024)