Lessons from Peru to reduce under-5 mortality: understanding program implementation and context.

BACKGROUND: Health policymakers aiming to reduce under-5 mortality (U5M) often lack data regarding how successful interventions in other countries were implemented. The Exemplars in U5M Study identified countries that achieved significant reductions in amenable U5M. This case study in Peru used implementation research to explore the contextual factors and strategies that contributed to the successful implementation of key evidence-based interventions (EBIs). METHODS: This research utilized a hybrid implementation research framework and a mixed-methods approach to understand the factors associated with EBI implementation and the successful reduction of U5M between 2000-2015. A desk review of existing literature on EBIs and U5M in Peru was completed, and in-depth interviews were performed with key Peruvian informants to understand the implementation strategies employed and the contextual factors that facilitated or were barriers to success. For the purposes of this analysis, three EBIs were selected and evaluated: antenatal care visits (ANC), facility-based deliveries, and infant vaccination. RESULTS: Between 2000-2015, the percent of mothers attending at least four antenatal care visits rose from 69% to 96.9%, and the percent of facility-based deliveries increased from 56 to 91%. Three doses of the tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine, widely acknowledged as a key global health indicator, reached 90% by 2015. Key informants noted that economic growth, financial reforms, strong national commitment to reduce poverty in Peru, and national prioritization of maternal and child health, were important contextual factors that contributed to the successful reduction of U5M. They noted key strategies that helped achieve success during the implementation of EBIs, including utilization of data for decision-making, adaptation driven by cultural sensitivity to address gaps in coverage, and a focus on equity and anti-poverty initiatives with the participation of government, civil society, and political parties to assure continuity of policies. CONCLUSION: Several EBIs contributed to the successful reduction of U5M in Peru between 2000-2015. Strategies such as the focus on equity throughout the study period contributed to an increase in coverage of EBIs like ANC visits, facility-based deliveries and infant vaccination which worked to reduce U5M. Understanding how Peru successfully implemented programs that reduced preventable infant and child deaths could be useful to replicating this substantial public health success in other low- and middle-income countries.

Impact of a Maternal Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Intervention on HIV-exposed Infants in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Uganda has successfully reduced pediatric HIV infections through prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs, yet little is known about adherence to infant-specific components of interventions. We hypothesized that infants born to mothers receiving the WiseMama (WM) electronic drug monitoring (EDM)-based adherence intervention would have increased uptake of six-week post-natal nevirapine (NVP) infant prophylaxis and better adherence to six-week early infant diagnosis (EID) HIV testing. METHODS: At two sites in Uganda, the Wise Infant Study (WIN) prospectively followed an infant cohort. Infants were born to women enrolled in an RCT testing the effect of real-time reminders delivered via EDM on maternal adherence to antiretroviral therapy. We assessed intrapartum and discharge receipt of NVP prophylaxis using pharmacy and infant HIV DNA testing laboratory data. RESULTS: Of 121 women eligible for WIN, 97 (80%) consented and enrolled; 46 had been randomized to control and 51 to intervention. There were no differences in receipt of a six-week NVP supply (control 87%, intervention 82%, p = 0.53). Receipt of any NVP prophylaxis did not vary by delivery location (p = 0.35), and although 12% of infants were delivered at non-study health facilities, they were not less likely to receive NVP at discharge (p = 0.37). Among infants with a completed HIV test, there was no difference in mean time to first test (control 52 days (SD 18), intervention 51 days (SD 15), p = 0.86). Only one infant, in the control group, tested positive for HIV. CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: We found no significant differences in adherence to infant PMTCT practices between intervention and control infants with relatively high rates of NVP receipt albeit with suboptimal adherence to six-week EID testing. Further work is needed to ensure improved access, uptake, and follow-up of HIV-exposed infants in the Option B+ era.

Implementing the mobile continuing medical education (mCME) project in Vietnam: making it work and sharing lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: Mobile technology is a novel approach for delivering continuing medical education (CME), with numerous advantages including lower costs and the ability to reach larger numbers than traditional in-person CME workshops. METHODS: From May 2015 to May 2017, we conducted two randomized controlled trials in a phased approach to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile CME (mCME) approach for two cadres of health professionals in Vietnam. The first randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested the use of an SMS-based educational intervention among Community-Based Physician's Assistants; while feasible and acceptable, this intervention failed to improve medical knowledge among participants. Given the failure of the first RCT, and drawing on qualitative work conducted with participants at the conclusion of the trial, various modifications were employed in the second RCT conducted among HIV specialist physicians in Vietnam. Version 2.0 of the mCME intervention did lead to significant improvement in medical knowledge among intervention participants. Here, we discuss in detail the development of an mCME platform and the experiential "lessons learned" during two phases of implementation. RESULTS: Numerous lessons were learned during implementation, including the importance of: (I) mixed methods approaches; (II) an underlying theoretical framework for behavior change projects; (III) expertise in software programming; (IV) aligning educational content to a well-defined participant population; and (V) engaging and motivating adult learners. We also discuss the critical importance of projects with local ownership and investment that are relevant to local problems. CONCLUSIONS: mHealth approaches for continued healthcare training and education is increasingly relevant in many low-resource settings, the lessons learned here will be valuable to other organizations looking to scale-up similar mHealth-type educational programmes.