Assessing the experiences of teenage mothers in accessing healthcare in Rwanda.

Teen mothers are more susceptible to the negative consequences of pregnancy, due to system-wide and socio-cultural barriers to accessing needed services, posing higher pregnancy complications and health risks to the babies and mothers. Understanding their lived experience can inform context-specific health programs and interventions that address their needs and improve the health outcomes. Twenty-three women who had delivered her first child before the age of 18 years were interviewed using semi-structured interview guide. The transcripts were coded, categorized and summarized into four major themes: 1) Many pregnant teen girls were disadvantaged by the system from accessing the healthcare services, 2) Although being judged, many found the health care services positive and important, 3) Faced financial difficulty in accessing health services, despite most medical services are covered by community based health insurance, 4) Health care services focuses mostly on the medical health of pregnancy, the social and psychological needs were mostly not available. The study highlighted the gap in providing mental health services, financial support to the teen mothers as part of a comprehensive health services. Some of them consulted health services for the first time with and did not return for follow up if perceived the services was bad. More sensitive and targeted materials and ANC services can be offered to this unique group of clients. More acceptance training to the health care providers and the public is needed. For health facilities, there is a need to also check their psychological wellbeing when seeking ANC services. Online or mobile phone-based mental health interventions may provide some solutions to the issue. Government should re-evaluate the health insurance system to avoid unintentional exclusion of this group of population. Policy to facilitate men to take responsibilities on teen pregnancy issue is needed.

"When we have served meat, my husband comes first": A qualitative analysis of child nutrition among urban and rural communities of Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Stunting among children under five years of age is a global public health concern, especially in low-and middle-income settings. Emerging evidence suggests a gradual reduction in the overall prevalence of stunting in Rwanda, necessitating a qualitative understanding of the contributing drivers to help develop targeted and effective strategies. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of women and men to identify key issues that influence childhood nutrition and stunting as well as possible solutions to address the problem. METHODS: Ten (10) focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with fathers and mothers of children under five years of age from five districts, supplemented by forty (40) in-depth interviews (IDIs) with Nurses and Community Health Workers (CHWs). Transcripts were coded inductively and analysed thematically using Dedoose (version 9.0.86). RESULTS: Three themes emerged: (1) Awareness of a healthy diet for pregnant women, infants, and children with subthemes Knowledge about maternal and child nutrition and feeding practices; (2) Personal and food hygiene is crucial while handling, preparing, and eating food with subthemes, food preparation practices and the feeding environment (3) factors influencing healthy eating among pregnant women, infants, and children with subthemes; Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among pregnant women and children. CONCLUSION: Several factors influence child stunting, and strategies to address them should recognise the cultural and social contexts of the problem. Prioritisation of nutrition-based strategies is vital and should be done using a multifaceted approach, incorporating economic opportunities and health education, especially among women, and allowing CHWs to counsel households with conflicts.

Leveraging multisectoral approach to understand the determinants of childhood stunting in Rwanda: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Addressing childhood stunting is a priority and an important step in the attainment of Global Nutrition Targets for 2025 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Rwanda, the prevalence of child stunting remains high despite concerted efforts to reduce it. METHODS: Utilizing the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) framework on maternal and child nutrition, this study systematically evaluated the determinants of child stunting in Rwanda and identified available gaps. Twenty-five peer-reviewed papers and five Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) reports were included in the final selection of our review, which allowed us to identify determinants such as governance and norms including wealth index, marital status, and maternal education, while underlying determinants were maternal health and nutrition factors, early initiation of breastfeeding, water treatment and sanitation, and immediate factors included infections. RESULTS: A total of 75% of the overall inequality in stunting was due to the difference in the social determinants of stunting between poor and nonpoor households. Maternal education (17%) and intergenerational transfer (31%) accounted for most of the inequalities in stunting, and an increase in gross domestic product per capita contributed to a reduction in its prevalence. There is a paucity of information on the impact of sociocultural norms, early life exposures, maternal health and nutrition, and Rwandan topography. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that improving women's status, particularly maternal education and health; access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene-related factors; and the socioeconomic status of communities, especially those in rural areas, will lay a sound foundation for reducing stunting among under-5 children.

A qualitative study to explore the healthcare-seeking experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Globally, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) encounter many challenging experiences when accessing health services compared to the general population. Stigma, discrimination, and punitive laws against same-sex relationships in some sub-Saharan African countries have made MSM and TGW more prone to depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, non-communicable diseases, and HIV. None of the prior studies in Rwanda on MSM and TGW had explored their lived experience in accessing health services. Accordingly, this study aimed at exploring the healthcare-seeking experiences of MSM and TGW in Rwanda. METHODS: This study utilized a qualitative research method employing a phenomenological design. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 MSM and 12 TGW. Participants were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling approaches in five districts in Rwanda." RESULTS: Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Three main themes emerged from the study: (1) The healthcare experiences of MSM and TGW were generally dissatisfactory, (2) MSM and TGW hesitated to seek care unless they were severely ill, (3) MSM and TGW's perspectives on how to improve their health-seeking behavior. CONCLUSION: MSM and TGW in Rwanda continue to face negative experiences within the healthcare delivery settings. These experiences include mistreatment, refusal of care, stigma, and discrimination. Provision of services for MSM and TGW and On-the-job cultural competence training in the care of MSM and TGW patients is needed. Including the same training in the medical and health sciences curriculum is recommended. Furthermore, awareness and sensitization campaigns to improve the understanding of the existence of MSM and TGW and to foster acceptance of gender and sexual diversity in society are necessary.

Socio-demographic and environmental determinants of under-5 stunting in Rwanda: Evidence from a multisectoral study.

Child stunting is an important household, socio-economic, environmental and nutritional stress indicator. Nationally, 33% of children under 5 in Rwanda are stunted necessitating the need to identify factors perpetuating stunting for targeted interventions. Our study assessed the individual and community-level determinants of under-5 stunting essential for designing appropriate policy and program responses for addressing stunting in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 6 and October 9, 2022, in five districts of Rwanda including, Kicukiro, Ngoma, Burera, Nyabihu and Nyanza. 2788 children and their caregivers were enrolled in the study and data on the individual level (child, caregiver/household characteristics), and community-level variables were collected. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to determine the influence of individual and community-level factors on stunting. The prevalence of stunting was 31.4% (95% CI: 29.5-33.1). Of this, 12.2% were severely stunted while 19.2% were moderately stunted. In addition, male gender, age above 11 months, child disability, more than six people in the household, having two children below the age of five, a child having diarrhea 1-2 weeks before the study, eating from own plate when feeding, toilet sharing, and open defecation increased the odds of childhood stunting. The full model accounted for 20% of the total variation in the odds of stunting. Socio-demographic and environmental factors are significant determinants of childhood stunting in Rwanda. Interventions to address under-five stunting should be tailored toward addressing individual factors at household levels to improve the nutritional status and early development of children.

Understanding factors associated with rural-urban disparities of stunting among under-five children in Rwanda: A decomposition analysis approach.

Childhood stunting in its moderate and severe forms is a major global problem and an important indicator of child health. Rwanda has made progress in reducing the prevalence of stunting. However, the burden of stunting and its geographical disparities have precipitated the need to investigate its spatial clusters and attributable factors. Here, we assessed the determinants of under-5 stunting and mapped its prevalence to identify areas where interventions can be directed. Using three combined rounds of the nationally representative Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys of 2010, 2015 and 2020, we employed the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis and the hotspot and cluster analyses to quantify the contributions of key determinants of stunting. Overall, there was a 7.9% and 10.3% points reduction in moderate stunting among urban and rural areas, respectively, and a 2.8% and 8.3% points reduction in severe stunting in urban and rural areas, respectively. Child age, wealth index, maternal education and the number of antenatal care visits were key determinants for the reduction of moderate and severe stunting. Over time, persistent statistically significant hotspots for moderate and severe stunting were observed in Northern and Western parts of the country. There is a need for an adaptive scaling approach when implementing national nutritional interventions by targeting high-burden regions. Stunting hotspots in Western and Northern provinces underscore the need for coordinated subnational initiatives and strategies such as empowering the rural poor, enhancing antenatal health care, and improving maternal health and education levels to sustain the gains made in reducing childhood stunting.

Assessing knowledge of and attitudes towards plagiarism and ability to recognize plagiaristic writing among university students in Rwanda.

Plagiarism is a serious type of scholastic misconduct. In Rwanda, no research has been conducted to assess university students' attitudes and knowledge of plagiarism and if they have the skills to avoid plagiarizing. This study was conducted to assess knowledge of and attitudes towards plagiarism, as well as ability to recognize plagiaristic writing, among university students in Rwanda. An online questionnaire containing 10 knowledge questions, 10 attitude statements, and 5 writing cases with excerpts to test identification of plagiarism was administered between February and April 2021. Out of the 330 university students from 40 universities who completed the survey, 75.8% had a high knowledge level (score ≥ 80%), but only 11.6% had a high score in recognizing plagiaristic writing (score ≥ 80%). There was no statistically significant association between knowledge level and ability to recognize plagiaristic writing (P = 0.109). Lower odds were found in both diploma/certificate and bachelor students of having high knowledge as well as of having high ability to recognize plagiaristic writing than in master's students. Although respondents generally disapproved of plagiarism, approximately half of the respondents indicated that sometimes plagiarism is unavoidable, and self-plagiarism should not be punished in the same way as plagiarism of others' work. Inter-collegial collaboration on effective plagiarism policies and training programs is needed.

What is Global Health Equity? A Proposed Definition.

The term "global health equity" has become more visible in recent years, yet we were unable to find a formal definition of the term. Our Viewpoint addresses this gap by offering a discussion of this need and proposing a definition. We define global health equity as mutually beneficial and power-balanced partnerships and processes leading to equitable human and environmental health outcomes (which we refer to as "products") on a global scale. Equitable partnerships actively work against racism and supremacy. Such partnerships foster processes with these same dynamics; for example, sharing lead authorship responsibilities with meaningful roles for host country researchers to frame relevant questions and to provide context and interpretation for the research findings. Equitable products, such as access to technology and tailored delivery of interventions effective in the specific context, are the fruits of these partnerships and processes.

Association of volunteer-administered home care with reduced emergency room visits and hospitalization among older adults with chronic conditions: A propensity-score-matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the association of receiving care from a volunteer-administered outreach program with emergency room utilization and hospitalization among older people with chronic conditions in Hong Kong. METHODS: Volunteers consisting of retired healthcare professionals, university students, and openly recruited citizens received training to provide home care services to hospital-discharged older Chinese adults aged 65+ with chronic conditions who were identified as high-risk patients of hospital admission and referred by public healthcare providers. Several home visits were made to enhance the patients' self-care capacity. For comparison, a 4:1-propensity score matching based on age, sex, the month of discharge, length of stay for the index episode, and 14 common chronic conditions was conducted to select a comparison group from a territory-wide inpatient database. Poisson regression was used to compare emergency room utilization and the number of hospitalized days. RESULTS: In total, 775 patients were analyzed, including 155 home care recipients and 620 extracted from the inpatient database as a matched comparison with similar baseline characteristics. Regression analysis showed that home care recipients had 21% fewer overall emergency room visits [95% confidence interval (CI): 3%-35%], 22% fewer such visits which led to hospitalization (95% CI: 1%-39%) and 22% fewer overall hospitalized days (95% CI: 16%-28%). Nevertheless, the number of hospitalized days admitted through the emergency room was 10% higher among home care recipients (95% CI: 0%-20%). CONCLUSIONS: Volunteer-administered home care might be effective in reducing emergency room visits and non-acute hospitalization, as well as early detection of acute problems warranting tertiary care. Further randomized studies are needed to substantiate this finding.

Exploring the lived experiences of parents caring for infants with gastroschisis in Rwanda: The untold story.

Pediatric surgery is a crucial pillar of health equity but is often not prioritized in the global health agenda, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Gastroschisis (GS) is a type of structural congenital anomaly that can be treated through surgical interventions. In Rwanda, neonatal surgical care is only available in one hospital. The experience of parents of children born with gastroschisis has not been previously studied in Rwanda. The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of parents of children diagnosed with GS in Rwanda. A qualitative study using a semi-structured interview guide was conducted. Parents who had children with gastroschisis and were discharged alive from the hospital in Rwanda were interviewed by trained data collectors, from May to July 2021. Data were transcribed, translated, and then coded using a structured code-book. Thematic analysis was conducted with the use of Dedoose software. Sixteen parents participated in the study. Five themes emerged from the data. They were: "GS diagnosis had a significant emotional impact on the parents", "Parents were content with the life-saving medical care provided for their children despite some dissatisfaction due to the delayed initiation of care and shortage of medications", "GS care was accompanied by financial challenges", "support systems were important coping mechanisms" and "the impact of GS care extended into the post-discharge period". Having a newborn with GS was an emotional journey. The lack of pre-knowledge about the condition created a shock to the parents. Parents found support from their faith and other parents with similar experiences. The experiences with the care received were mostly positive. The overall financial burden incurred from the medical treatment and indirect costs was high and extended beyond the hospital stay. Strengthening prenatal and hospital services, providing peer, spiritual and financial support could enhance the parents' experience.

Health Management Workforce Capacity-Building in Liberia, Post-Ebola.

Following the Ebola crisis in Liberia in 2014-15, the Liberian Ministry of Health developed a strategy to build a fit-for-purpose health workforce, focusing on both health care providers and health managers. To help fulfill national capacity-building goals for health management, a team of faculty, staff, and practitioners from the Yale School of Medicine, the University of Liberia, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, and the Ministry of Health collaboratively developed and launched the health management program in Liberia in July 2017. The team worked to build specific management and leadership competencies for healthcare workers serving in management and leadership roles in Liberia's health sector using two concurrent strategies-1) implementation of a hospital-based partnership-mentorship model in the two largest hospitals in the capital city of Monrovia, and 2) establishment of an executive education-style advanced Certificate in Health Systems Leadership and Management at the University of Liberia. Here we describe the health management program in Liberia, its focus, and its evolution from program launch in 2017 to the present, as well as ongoing efforts to transition program activities to local partner ownership by the end of 2021.

A qualitative study to explore the experience of parents of newborns admitted to neonatal care unit in rural Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal Care Units (NCUs) provide special care to sick and small newborns and help reduce neonatal mortality. For parents, having a hospitalized newborn can be a traumatic experience. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited literature about the parents' experience in NCUs. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the experience of parents in the NCU of a rural district hospital in Rwanda. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted with parents whose newborns were hospitalized in the Ruli District Hospital NCU from September 2018 to January 2019. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide in the participants' homes by trained data collectors. Data were transcribed, translated, and then coded using a structured code book. All data were organized using Dedoose software for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one interviews were conducted primarily with mothers (90.5%, n = 19) among newborns who were most often discharged home alive (90.5%, n = 19). Four themes emerged from the interviews. These were the parental adaptation to having a sick neonate in NCU, adaptation to the NCU environment, interaction with people (healthcare providers and fellow parents) in the NCU, and financial stressors. CONCLUSION: The admission of a newborn to the NCU is a source of stress for parents and caregivers in rural Rwanda, however, there were several positive aspects which helped mothers adapt to the NCU. The experience in the NCU can be improved when healthcare providers communicate and explain the newborn's status to the parents and actively involve them in the care of their newborn. Expanding the NCU access for families, encouraging peer support, and ensuring financial accessibility for neonatal care services could contribute to improved experiences for parents and families in general.

Bilateral external iliac vein compression-An important consideration in implantation of leadless permanent pacemaker.

We report on an unusual case with asymptomatic bilateral external iliac vein non-thrombotic obstruction causing difficulty in delivery of the leadless permanent pacemaker and discuss on the strategies to overcome the problem.

Assessing the knowledge, attitude and perception on workplace readiness regarding COVID-19 among health care providers in Ethiopia-An internet-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare facilities in Ethiopia are responsible for collecting samples for testing and treating COVID-19 patients, providing COVID-19 information to staff, establishment of response teams, and provision of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). Working at the frontlines against the pandemic, health care providers' level of knowledge about COVID-19, attitude towards their work, and confidence in the preparedness of their facilities are essential factors in mounting a successful response. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the knowledge level of HCP in Ethiopia on this novel coronavirus, and their perspectives on whether their workplaces have sufficient preparedness to handle this disease. METHODS: A self-administered online survey was conducted. RESULTS: The knowledge related to COVID-19 among HCPs was high, with an overall average of 91.5%. The majority of our respondents were supportive to the government's measures to minimize disease transmission, but most of them were also frustrated by how COVID affected their day to day lives. The majority of them were worried about contracting COVID at work and transmitting the infection to their families. Most respondents did not feel safe going to work (P<0.001). Apart from providing adequate information on COVID-19, most workplaces did not have sufficient PPE (P<000.1) and medical supplies (P<0.001). Close to 50% of respondents agreed and disagreed that their workplaces had clear protocols for handling COVID-19 (P = 0.144). Those who handled known COVID patients were more likely to agree their workplaces had clear protocols (OR = 2.69, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Improving supplies of PPEs and establishing a clear communicating protocol in handling COVID patients are highly recommended.

Assessment of Delays in Emergency Surgical Care and Patient Postoperative Outcomes at a Referral Hospital in Northern Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Surgical interventions are cost-effective methods to save lives and prevent disabilities. Surgical delays and access to three Bellwether procedures are key monitoring indicators for universal access to safe and affordable surgical and anesthesia care and health system performance. This study assessed the delays in receiving surgical and anesthesia care for emergency surgical patients at a district hospital in Northern Rwanda. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to survey all emergency surgical patients who presented at the hospital between May and July 2020, to assess the delays in seeking (first) and reaching (second) care. In-hospital (third) delay and patient outcomes within the first 7 days postsurgery were collected by patient file auditing. Factors associated with third delay were identified through healthcare provider in-depth interviews. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were surveyed, and nine healthcare providers were interviewed. The median was less than a day for first delay, 1 day for second delay, and 16.5 h for third delay for all emergency procedures. 20% of the Bellwether procedures were performed within two hours after arriving at the hospital. Factors affecting the delays included visiting a traditional healer, district of residence, referral system, income status, as well as shortage of surgeons and specialists, surgical supplies, and operating theaters. CONCLUSION: Further research to study the cause of delays within the referral system is needed. Surgical outreach, equipment, and infrastructure would help to shorten in-hospital delays. Longer-term follow-up studies on patient complications and outcomes due to delay in surgical care are needed.

Podoconiosis in Rwanda: Knowledge, attitudes and practices among health professionals and environmental officers.

BACKGROUND: Podoconiosis is a neglected tropical disease commonly found in volcanic regions, where soil is rich in silica. It usually manifests as bilateral lower limb edema. The majority of people affected by podoconiosis are farmers who do not wear shoes. The condition was recently documented in all 30 districts in Rwanda but knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Rwandan health professionals and environmental officers towards podoconiosis are unknown. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Rwandan health providers and environmental officers towards podoconiosis in order to improve patient healthcare experiences and health outcomes, and to reduce stigma against affected individuals. To achieve this goal, we administered a KAP assessment to physicians (N = 13), nurses/midwives (N = 59), community health workers (N = 226), and environmental officers (N = 38) in the third highest podoconiosis prevalence district in Rwanda (Musanze). All 336 respondents had heard of podoconiosis, but 147 (44%) respondents correctly identified soil as the only direct cause of podoconiosis. The awareness of signs and symptoms and risk groups was lower than any other category (31.5% and 47.5%, respectively). The overall attitude toward podoconiosis was positive (86.1%), with CHWs least likely to harbor negative beliefs against podoconiosis patients. One particular area where most respondents (76%) expressed negative attitude was that they saw people with podoconiosis as a threat to their own health and their family's health. Prescription of antibiotics and use of ointments/soap to manage wounds was low (5% and 32.2%, respectively), in part due to supply shortages at health facilities. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified clear gaps in health provider knowledge and practices that affect patient care for those with podoconiosis. Improved access to essential medicines at health facilities and podoconiosis-focused training sessions for practicing health providers are necessary to minimize the burden and stigma of affected individuals.

Barriers to post exposure prophylaxis use among men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa: An online cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Curbing new HIV infections among MSM in SSA remains problematic, due to cultural beliefs, norms that oppose same-sex acts, and criminalization of same-sex acts. No study focused on barriers to PEP use in SSA region has been conducted. Our study focused on identifying barriers to Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) use among MSM in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was sent out to members of 14 Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual, Queer (LGBTQ) associations in SSA, to identify barriers to PEP utilization in MSM. A total of 207 MSM from 22 countries in SSA completed the survey between 8 January 2019 and 23 February 2019. Descriptive statistics were generated, chi-square and backward stepwise logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between the outcome "PEP use" and other variables. RESULTS: Most of the MSM were aged 18 to 30, and the majority (220, 74.6%) described themselves as gay. Rwanda had the highest number of respondents (117, 39.7% of the total), followed by Nigeria, Ghana and South-Africa.The majority of respondents reported having heard about PEP (234, 80.7%), and the average PEP correct knowledge level was 59%.Five characteristics were associated with increased odds of using PEP: Age, having vocational education, having heard of PEP, knowledge of where to get PEP, and having been refused housing. CONCLUSION: There is a need for a collaborative effort between policy makers, key players in HIV prevention, and MSM associations in SSA to remove barriers to PEP uptake to promote optimal PEP utilization amongst MSM.

Identifying risk factors of anemia among women of reproductive age in Rwanda - a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Rwanda demographic and health survey 2014/2015.

BACKGROUND: Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) continues to be among the major public health problems in many developing countries, including Rwanda, where it increased in prevalence between the 2015 and 2010 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) reports. A thorough understanding of its risk factors is necessary to design better interventions. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted in Rwanda on a nationally representative sample to assess factors associated with anemia among WRA. Accordingly, this study was conducted to address such gap. METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the RDHS 2014-2015. The study population consisted of 6680 WRA who were tested for anemia during the survey. Anemia was defined as having a hemoglobin level equal to or below 10.9 g/dl for a pregnant woman, and hemoglobin level equal to or below 11.9 g/dl for a non-pregnant woman. Pearson's chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were conducted for bivariate and multivariable analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia among WRA was 19.2% (95% CI: 18.0-20.5). Four factors were found to be associated with lower odds of anemia, including being obese (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40-0.91), being in the rich category (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63-0.87), sleeping under a mosquito net (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.98), and using hormonal contraceptives (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.50-0.73). Five factors were associated with higher odds of anemia, including being underweight (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.78), using an intrauterine device (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.05-3.75), being separated or widowed (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.09-1.67), and living in the Southern province (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.11-1.89) or in the Eastern province (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06-1.88). CONCLUSION: Anemia continues to pose public health challenges; novel public health interventions should consider geographic variations in anemia risk, seek to improve women's economic statuses, and strengthen iron supplementation especially for Intrauterine device users. Additionally, given the association between anemia and malaria, interventions to prevent malaria should be enhanced.

Implementing the World Health Organization safe childbirth checklist in a district Hospital in Rwanda: a pre- and post-intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide maternal mortality remains high, with approximately 830 maternal deaths occurring each day. About 90% of these deaths occur in low-income countries. Evidenced-based essential birth practices administered during routine obstetrical care and childbirth are key to reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) is a low-cost tool designed to ensure birth attendants perform 29 essential birth practices (EBP) at four critical periods in the birth continuum. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with EBP in Masaka District Hospital both before and after the implementation of the WHO-SCC. METHODS: This quality improvement project took place in the Masaka District Hospital in Rwanda. Observations of the 29 EBPs were done before and after WHO SCC implementation. The implementation process consisted of providing training in the use of the checklist to all clinical staff and posting SCC posters at different locations in the maternity unit. RESULTS: A total 391 birth events were observed pre-intervention and 389 post-intervention. The overall EBP compliance rate increased from 46% pre-intervention to 56% post-intervention (P = 0.005). Significant improvements were seen in 11 out of 29 EBPs. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the WHO SCC improved the overall EBP compliance rate in Masaka District Hospital. Determining the root cause of low compliance rate of some EBP may allow for more successful implementation of EBP interventions in the future. After further study, the SCC should be considered for scale up.

Health Professional Training and Capacity Strengthening Through International Academic Partnerships: The First Five Years of the Human Resources for Health Program in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: The Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program (HRH Program) is a 7-year (2012-2019) health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda with the goals of training a large, diverse, and competent health workforce and strengthening the capacity of academic institutions in Rwanda. METHODS: The data for this organizational case study was collected through official reports from the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH) and 22 participating US academic institutions, databases from the MoH and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) in Rwanda, and surveys completed by the co-authors. RESULTS: In the first 5 years of the HRH Program, a consortium of US academic institutions has deployed an average of 99 visiting faculty per year to support 22 training programs, which are on track to graduate almost 4600 students by 2019. The HRH Program has also built capacity within the CMHS by promoting the recruitment of Rwandan faculty and the establishment of additional partnerships and collaborations with the US academic institutions. CONCLUSION: The milestones achieved by the HRH Program have been substantial although some challenges persist. These challenges include adequately supporting the visiting faculty; pairing them with Rwandan faculty (twinning); ensuring strong communication and coordination among stakeholders; addressing mismatches in priorities between donors and implementers; the execution of a sustainability strategy; and the decision by one of the donors not to renew funding beyond March 2017. Over the next 2 academic years, it is critical for the sustainability of the 22 training programs supported by the HRH Program that the health-related Schools at the CMHS significantly scale up recruitment of new Rwandan faculty. The HRH Program can serve as a model for other training initiatives implemented in countries affected by a severe shortage of health professionals.