EviSIP: using evidence to change practice through mentorship – an innovative experience for reproductive health in the Latin American and Caribbean regions

Abstract

Maternal mortality is unacceptably high in our region. In 2015, the Latin American Center for Perinatology and Women´s Reproductive Health (CLAP) created a regional network of institutions including 16 countries, committed to improving epidemiological surveillance and healthcare of women in a situation of abortion or near miss event, using a common platform, the Perinatal Information System (SIP). The objective of the current pilot project was to test a new method of study called EviSIP (Evidence from SIP), a method of generating information on maternal near miss and abortion for the region. We describe the implementation of this initiative in reproductive healthcare facilities using SIP. Junior researchers/clinicians from these countries were included, along with expert researchers in reproductive health from across the world. Articles were produced with data on maternal near miss and abortion gathered from the SIP of each participating sentinel center; and recommendations from experts. EviSIP was the first joint workspace to discuss patient outcomes after treatment of abortion or near miss cases, with data analysis of each Sentinel Center; discuss and analyze data among centers, at a country and regional level; discuss the main outcomes and their impact on changing procedures and policies; strengthen the operational research capacity of the centers; develop and encourage the publication of scientific articles. The EviSIP initiative also promoted training of healthcare professionals in research. EviSIP provided a unique opportunity to train for research and mentorship and was pivotal to the production of scientific knowledge of reproductive health in the region.

Abortion-related morbidity in six Latin American and Caribbean countries: findings of the WHO/HRP multi-country survey on abortion (MCS-A)

“…This network plays a very important role in applying the WHO recommendations in different legal settings and has reported results of post-abortion contraception and spontaneous abortion care. 40–42 …”

Factors Associated with Abortion Complications after the Implementation of a Surveillance Network (MUSA Network) in a University Hospital

“…The data used were obtained after the implementation of an international multicenter surveillance network for the institution of good clinical practices (the MUSA Network) and of a new method to generate knowledge based on the SIP, called EviSIP. 8,9 We observed that, after the implementation of the surveillance network, the institution updated its abortion management protocol to reduce the use of curettage and implement MVA. Strategies that reduce maternal morbidity and unsafe abortion include the promotion of women's rights, professional training, women's empowerment, decriminalization of abortion, sex education, and equitable access to health, which are objectives that are in accordance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.…”

“…Mujeres en Situación de Aborto (Women Undergoing Abortion, MUSA, in Spanish) is a multicenter network with international cooperation created by Centro Latinoamericano de Perinatología (Latin American Center for Perinatology, CLAP, in Spanish) to encourage good practices in the care of women during abortions in Latin America and the Caribbean. 8,9 This network compiles data related to the pregnancypuerperal cycle from several hospitals in many countries in Latin America through Sistema de Información Perinatal (Perinatal Information System, SIP, in Spanish), a software…”

“…This article was written using a new SIP-based method of generating information, called Evidencias del SIP (Evidence from SIP, EviSIP, in Spanish), which has been previously described in detail. 9 In summary, junior researchers from sentinel centers participating in the MUSA Network meet with specialists in human reproduction research from other parts of the world. After the detailed analysis of data from each sentinel center, the most interesting results are submitted for publication in scientific journals.…”

“…This initiative develops the research ability of professionals in sentinel centers and increases knowledge about reproductive health in Latin America and the Caribbean. 9…”