BackgroundGhana had significant reductions in neonatal mortality during the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) era. Few studies have attempted to identify the interventions, programs and policies that contributed to this progress. To understand the underlying factors which contributed to the reduction in neonatal mortality and to inform strategies to reach the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to end preventable neonatal deaths, we conducted a mixed-methods study in the Northern, Upper West, and Volta Regions of Ghana. MethodsThe quantitative component consisted of an analysis of trends in coverage of key neonatal health interventions using subnational data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). The Lives Saved Tool (LiST) was used to assess the contribution of various neonatal health interventions which resulted in reductions in neonatal mortality. Qualitative in-depth interviews (N=38) were conducted with government health officials, health workers, staff from non-government organizations, and community leaders, including traditional birth attendants and local chiefs from the Northern Region of Ghana. ConclusionsThe strategies that supported the reductions span from national-level policy intervention to facility-based quality improvement, to community level engagement. These strategies ES and KS are equal contribution first authors. a Sacks E, Sakyi K, Owusu PG, et al. Factors contributing to neonatal mortality reduction in three regions in Ghana: a mixed-methods study using the Lives Saved (LiST) modelling tool.
Addressing racial disparities within the surgical workforce is vital to provide quality care to all patients; inclusion is critical to do so. Inclusion signifies a move beyond numerical representation; tangible goals include reducing attrition and maximizing career development. The aims of this review were to (1) test whether there are academically published interventions or frameworks addressing inclusion in the surgical workforce and (2) characterize these interventions or frameworks. This review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, Web of Science) were queried. Peer-reviewed full-text English-language articles focused on interventions or frameworks to achieve inclusion in the surgical workforce were considered. The initial search yielded 2243 papers; 15 met inclusion criteria. The published literature regarding interventions to achieve inclusion was sparse; the most common reasons for exclusion of full texts were papers not focused on interventions (42%; n = 51) or purely focused on diversity and representation (36%; n = 42). The most common field represented was broadly academic surgery (4/15; 47%), with seven other subspecialties represented. A small minority received funding (3/15; 20%). Common themes included systematic reform of recruitment policies and practices, increased access to targeted mentorship, gaining leadership support, and increased avenues for underrepresented faculty advancement. While limited, promising work has been undertaken through national collaboration and model institutional work. Future considerations may include incentivizing academic publication of inclusion work, increasing access to funding, and rewarding these efforts in career advancement.
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