Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health

Most Maternal, Child, and Newborn Deaths
Can Be Prevented

URC works to ensure that mothers don’t die from complications from pregnancy and childbirth. This mother is being carried by family members to a health clinic in Guatemala.

URC focuses on designing and expanding evidence-based approaches and strengthening the systems in which they operate. Assisting countries in Africa, Central America, and Asia, URC helps to identify locally developed, practical solutions.

In Cambodia, Guatemala, and Uganda, URC is strengthening the implementation of essential newborn care programs within an integrated set of maternal, newborn, and child health services.

URC is part of the Implementation Advisory Group for Helping Babies Breathe, a global initiative to train skilled providers in newborn resuscitation. In Uganda, URC is taking the lead to help launch HBB.

To tackle postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal deaths, URC is supporting the introduction of the active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL), a set of clinical steps to prevent and treat PPH. In most countries, AMTSL is part of an immediate postpartum package for mothers and newborns, who are both particularly vulnerable in the week after birth. In 2008, URC’s maternal and newborn health initiatives in Niger, Benin, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Ecuador reached an average 62% of districts in each country, covering over 190,000 births.

Stemming Postpartum Hemorrhage, a Major Killer of Women

Woman in Benin holds the proof of a URC project’s success in her arms. After nearly dying of a postpartum hemorrhage during her first delivery, this mother went to a facility taking steps to prevent PPH.

Challenge

URC has been working through the USAID-supported global Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) to advise the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health (MOH) on preventing and treating PPH Originally, many officials had reservations about using AMTSL, although research shows it to be an essential approach to reducing deaths related to PPH.

Results

Demonstrated how to include AMTSL routinely in childbirth care through a pilot in one province in 2003
By spring 2009, expanded AMTSL to nearly 60% of government facilities providing childbirth care
Following vigorous advocacy by national AMTSL champions, the MOH is leading an intensive initiative to spread this lifesaving approach to all public facilities

Current Projects

Better Health Services (BHS)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Essential Obstetric and Newborn Care (EONC) in Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Implementation Support for Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries
Funded By: Millennium Challenge Corporation
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Health Promotion and Communication Project (HealthPro)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

Increasing Access to HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC)
Funded By: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Project Duration: 2006 to present

HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Laboratory Support
Funded By: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Benin Integrated Family Health Project (Projet Intégré de Santé Familiale, PISAF)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development and the President’s Malaria Initiative through USAID for malaria activities
Project Duration: 2006 to present

Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership (MaNHEP)
Funded By: Subaward from Emory University with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Promoting Malaria Prevention and Treatment (ProMPT)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development through the President’s Malaria Initiative
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Translating Research into Action (TRAction)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Technical Assistance and Support Contract 3: Global Health (TASC3 Global Health)
Funded By: United States Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Afghanistan
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2008 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Ecuador
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | El Salvador
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2009 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Ethiopia
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Guatemala
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2008 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Honduras
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Global
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Mali
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2009 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Nicaragua
Funded By: United States Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Niger
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Russia
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | South Africa
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Tanzania
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project (HCI) | Uganda
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2007 to present

Community-Based Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Innovation
Funded By: US Agency for International Development through a sub-award from ChildFund International
Project Duration: 2009 to present

Multi-Sector Alliance Program (Alianzas II)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development through Research Triangle International
Project Duration: 2010 to present

USAID Health Care Improvement Project | Senegal
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2010 to present

USAID Primary Health Care Project in Iraq (PHCPI)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2011-2015

Partnership for the Community Management of Child Health (Prise-C)
Funded By: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Project Duration: 2010 to present

Diagnosis and Management of Severe Febrile Illness: Tibu Homa
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2011 to present

Past Projects

Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2006-2011

Food and Nutrition Interventions (NuLife)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Project Duration: 2008-2011

Improving Primary Health Care in Albania I and II (Pro Shëndetit)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2003–2009

Asia Family Planning Operations Research Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development, Office of Population
Project Duration: 1985-1991

Benin Integrated Family Health Project (PROSAF)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Benin
Project Duration: 1999-2006

Health Systems Strengthening (HSS)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Cambodia
Project Duration: 2002-2008

Cambodia Health Equity Funds
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2006-2009

Central America Health Consultancies
Funded By: The World Bank
Project Duration: 1990-1995

Chile Child Survival Project Evaluation
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Chile
Project Duration: 1993-1994

Dominican Republic Child Survival Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Dominican Republic
Project Duration: 1991-1993

El Salvador Strengthening Health Project Technical Assistance and Support Contract 2 (TASC2)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2006–2009

Eritrea Technical Assistance and Support Contract 2 (TASC2)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Eritrea
Project Duration: 2003–2006

The Maram Project: Healthier Palestinian Families
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2002-2004

Diagnostic Test Cost Analysis for the Developing World
Funded By: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Project Duration: 2007–2009

Health Planning and Health Delivery Systems
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1983-1990

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Computer-Based Learning Tool
Funded By: World Health Organization
Project Duration: 2001-2002

Primary Health Care Management Advancement Program
Funded By: The Aga Khan Foundation
Project Duration: 1991-1993

Partnerships for Health Reform Project and Partners for Health Reformplus
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1995–2005

Primary Health Care Operations Research Project (PRICOR) I and II
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1981–1991

Maternal and Child Health: Technical Assistance and Support Contract (TASC)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1998–2003

Technical Information on Population for the Private Sector
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1985-1990

Water and Sanitation for Health
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1988–1994

Multi-Sector Alliance Program (Alianzas I)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development (USAID) through Research Triangle Institute (RTI)
Project Duration: 2006–2009

Quality in Health (Calidad en Salud)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1999-2009

Haiti Voluntary Agencies for Child Survival Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1989-1995

Latin America and Caribbean Health and Nutrition Sustainability
Funded By: US Agency for International Development’s Latin American and Caribbean Bureau and country Missions
Project Duration: 1990–1995

Project for Regional Management of Health Services
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Morocco
Project Duration: 1994-2003

Morocco Family Planning and Maternal Child Health
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1994-1999

Regional Management of Health Services Project (Project de Gestion Régionale des Services de Santé, PROGRESS)
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2000-2003

Mozambique Primary Health Care Support Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1994-1999

Rapid Expansion of Nutritional Recuperation Services for Malnourished Children in Nigerien Facilities
Funded By: American Jewish World Services, US Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and UNICEF
Project Duration: 2005-2007

Peru Strengthening Health Institutions Project, MaxSalud Component
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Peru
Project Duration: 1994-1999

Peru Consultancy in Quality Assurance and Improvement: Health and Basic Nutrition Project
Funded By: The World Bank
Project Duration: 1999-2000

Quality Assurance Project (QAP) I, II, and III
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1990-2008

Romania Health Care Reform Program
Funded By: US Agency for International Development /Romania
Project Duration: 2005-2008

Women and Infant Health Strategy
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1999-2003

Senegal Family Health Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 1980-1981

Development of a Population and Family Health Improvement Project in the Solomon Islands
Funded By: Asian Development Bank
Project Duration: 1994-1995

Integrated Technical Assistance Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/South Africa
Project Duration: 2004-2008

Rural Community Health Project
Funded By: US Agency for International Development/Tunisia
Project Duration: 1981-1985

Uganda: REDUCE II
Funded By: Academy for Educational Development
Project Duration: 2000-2001

UNICEF Malawi and New York
Funded By: UNICEF
Project Duration: 2008-2010

Improvement Maternal and Neonatal Health in Belize
Funded By: Ministry of Health, Belize, Central America
Project Duration: 2009 to 2010

e-Health in Bangladesh: Survey on Strengthening Remote Health Service Facilities
Funded By: Grameen Communication Center
Project Duration: 2008

Technical Assistance and Support Contract 2 (TASC2): Global Health
Funded By: United States Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2004–2009

Strengthening Community Safety Nets (SCSN)
Funded By: United States Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2008-2011