Publications > Pregnancy and childbirth
Introducing free home pregnancy tests as part of community-based health services can improve pregnancy care by attracting more clients at risk of pregnancy to services at the community level, enabling more women to confirm they are pregnant and receive antenatal counseling.
- Comfort AB, Juras RC, Bradley SEK, Ranjalahy Rasolofomanana J, Noeliarivelo Ranjalahy A, Harper CC. Health Policy and Planning. August 2019.
These findings suggest that mistreatment is experienced more frequently by women of color, when birth occurs in hospitals, and among those with social, economic or health challenges.
- Vedam S, Stoll K, Taiwo TK, Rubashkin N, Cheyney M, Strauss N, McLemore M, et al. Reproductive Health. June 2019.
This study finds negative effects from policies including mandatory warning signs about drinking while pregnant; categorizing drinking while pregnant as child abuse/neglect; limiting criminal prosecution; and priority substance abuse treatment for pregnant women. They lead to thousands of babies being born low birthweight or preterm birth each year, and cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
- Subbaraman MS, Roberts SCM. PLOS One. May 2019.
This is the first known study to measure person-centered maternity care in more than one country with the same tool. Researchers surveyed women in Kenya, Ghana and India using a scale to measure their experience of care. The results showed that serious efforts are needed to improve person-centered maternity care.
- Afulani PA, Phillips B, Aborigo RA, Moyer CA. The Lancet Global Health. January 2019.
This is the first study to look at year-long trajectories of physical and psychosocial health after fistula repair surgery in Uganda. Researchers found that most women reported dramatic improvements in their physical and psychosocial health, mostly within the first 6 months.
- El Ayadi AM et al. Tropical Medicine and International Health. October 2018.
This study found that in zip codes with a higher concentrations of racially and/or economically disadvantaged groups, Black women had a higher odds of preterm birth and infant mortality. Women in the least privileged zip codes had a more than 25% higher chance of having a preterm birth compared with women who lived in the most privileged zip codes.
- Chambers BD, Baer RJ, McLemore MR, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL. Journal of Urban Health. April 2018.
In Guinea, the Ebola virus outbreak stunted—and, in some cases, reversed—progress that had recently been made on several maternal and reproductive health indicators, including prenatal care visits and in-facility deliveries.
- Delamou A, El Ayadi AM, Sidibe S, et al. The Lancet Global Health. February 2017.
The Lancet Maternal Health Series included this review of the best evidence-based practices for prenatal, birth and postpartum care, as well as unsafe or unnecessary practices.
- Miller S, Abalos E, Chamillard M, et al. The Lancet. September 2016.
US health care providers are missing opportunities to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs to pregnant women facing increased risk of HIV.
- Seidman DL, Weber S, Timoney MT, Oza KK, Mullins E, Cohan DL, Wright RL. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. July 2016.
New guidelines help health care workers in low-resource settings identify when a woman is going into shock due to blood loss after giving birth.
- El Ayadi AM, Nathan HL, Seed PT, Butrick EA, Hezelgrave NL, Shennan AH, Miller S. PLOS One. February 2016.
Secondary prevention of postpartum hemorrhage with misoprostol is non-inferior to universal prophylaxis based on the primary outcome of postpartum hemoglobin.
- Raghavan S, Geller S, Miller S, Goudar S, Anger H, Yadavannavar M, Dabash R, Bidri S, Gudadinni M, Udgiri R, Koch A, Bellad MB, Winikoff B. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. September 2015.
Per-protocol effect of earlier non-pneumatic anti-shock garment application for obstetric hemorrhage
The results support using a non-pneumatic anti-shock garment at the primary health clinic level, within a continuum of care for obstetric hemorrhage.
- El Ayadi A, Gibbons L, Bergel, E, Butrick, E, Huong MT, Mkumba G, Kaseba C, Magwali T, Merialdi M, Miller S. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. July 2014.
Making a low-cost emergency obstetric simulation training accessible globally has the potential to save the lives of mothers and newborns, particularly in the most resource-limited settings.
- Walker D, Cohen S, Fritz J, Olvera M, Lamadrid H, Carranza L. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. May 2014.
Association between severe obstetric hemorrhage and HIV status
HIV might affect hemorrhage-related maternal mortality by increasing blood loss.
- Curtis M, El Ayadi A, Mkumba G, Butrick E, Leech A, Geissler J, Miller S. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. January 2014.
Using a non-pneumatic anti-shock garment is associated with a reduced odds of death for women with hypovolemic shock secondary to obstetric hemorrhage.
- El Ayadi A, Butrick E, Geissler J, Miller S. BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth. November 2013.
Advances in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage
Broad global access to oxytocin, other uterotonics and oral misoprostol for postpartum hemorrhage prevention and treatment is an important strategy to reduce maternal deaths.
- El Ayadi A, Robinson N, Geller S, Miller S. Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology. November 2013.
There might be treatment benefits from earlier application of the NASG for women experiencing delays obtaining definitive treatment for hypovolemic shock.
- Miller S, Bergel EF, El Ayadi A, Gibbons L, Butrick E, Magwali T, Mkumba G, Kaseba C, My Huong NT, Geissler JD, Merialdi M. PLOS ONE. October 2013.
This study demonstrates the fallacy of assuming that general physicians provide the highest quality obstetric care and emphasizes the importance of competency based definitions for skilled birth attendants.
- Walker D, DeMaria L, Gonzalez-Hernandez D, Padron-Salas A, Romero-Alvarez M, Suarez L. Midwifery. October 2013.
These results suggest certain maternal conditions, particularly the presence of another life-threatening co-morbidity or macerated stillbirth, conferred a higher risk of mortality from postpartum hemorhage.
- El Ayadi A, Raifman S, Jega F, Butrick E, Ojo Y, Geller S, Miller S. PLOS ONE. August 2013.
Using a non-pneumatic anti-shock garment for women in severe shock resulted in markedly improved health outcomes, with 2 to 2.9 disability adjusted life years (DALYs) averted per woman. The cost per DALY averted was extremely low.
- Sutherland T, Downing J, Miller S, Bishai D, Butrick E, Fathalla MF, Mourad-Youssif, M, Ojengbede O, Nsima D, Kahn JG. PLOS ONE. April 2013.
Three interventions will be implemented in indigenous, rural and poor populations: a simulation training program for emergency obstetric and perinatal care, increased participation of the professional midwife in strengthening the link between traditional birth attendants (TBA) and the formal health care system, and a social marketing campaign to promote institution-based deliveries.
- Kestler E, Walker D, Bonvecchio A, de Tejada SS, Donner A. BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth. March 2013.
The experience of the PRONTO program in Guatemala indicates that interactive learning, including simulation, is an effective way to promote cultural fluency among healthcare providers.
- Fahey JO, Cohen SR, Holme F, Buttrick ES, Dettinger JC, Kestler E, Walker DM. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing. January-March 2013.
PRONTO training for obstetric and neonatal emergencies in Mexico
PRONTO brings simulation training to low-resource settings and can empower inter-professional teams to respond more effectively within their institutional limitations to emergencies involving women and newborns.
- Walker DM, Cohen SR, Estrada F, Monterroso ME, Jenny A, Fritz J, Fahey JO. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. February 2012.