Integration and equity in fistula care: Goals for GMNHC

Originally posted October 17, 2015 on The MHTF Blog.  The Global Maternal and Newborn Health Conference (GMNHC) is an exciting opportunity for all of us to share our experiences and interests across the three conference themes – integration, equity and quality of care. Considering the aims of the USAID-supported Fistula Care Plus Project, I especially […]

A new index to measure the quality of facility-based labor and delivery care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Over the past decade, we have seen a profound shift in the use of maternal health services. Even in the poorest countries, more women are delivering in health facilities—an estimated 64% of women in developing countries (and 51% of women in the 69 poorest countries) gave birth in facilities in 2012. But getting women into health facilities is not enough.

Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality – Bridges to Morbidity Reduction

As we enter the post-MDG world, with the newly-drafted Sustainable Development Goals in hand, the recent launch of the Strategies toward Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) strategy paper at the World Health Assembly is an important moment for the maternal health and global health communities. The EPMM paper lays out five strategic objectives to guide programs working toward EPMM, as well as several cross-cutting actions that support this goal. It is important to remember that many averted maternal deaths may still result in maternal morbidity, including severe and/or chronic conditions.

New research to shorten recovery time for fistula repair

One of the key factors that determines the length of post-operative inpatient stay is how long a woman needs bladder catheterization, a small tube inserted into the bladder through the urethra to drain urine, after surgery. Catheterization is an essential part of the healing process, but practices vary widely. Fistula Care (now Fistula Care Plus) has conducted a large multi-center randomized controlled trial to determine whether seven-day bladder catheterization can be used instead of 14-day catheterization. The results of this study have now been published in the Lancet: the findings demonstrate that short duration catheterization is safe and effective following simple fistula repair surgery.

New Findings Support Faster, More Cost-Effective Recovery for Women Following Obstetric Fistula Repair Surgery

NEW YORK, April 22, 2015—EngenderHealth press release on new study published in The Lancet.

EngenderHealth, a leading global women’s health organization, announced publication of study results in The Lancet that have the potential to dramatically improve standards of care following obstetric fistula repairs. By demonstrating that short-duration catheterization is safe and effective in appropriate cases, the large-scale study, conducted by EngenderHealth’s Fistula Care Project (now Fistula Care Plus) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), will inform current clinical practice, improve quality of care and allow for greater access to surgery.