Systematic review on human resources for health interventions to improve maternal health outcomes: evidence from low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

There is a broad consensus and evidence that shows qualified, accessible, and responsive human resources for health (HRH) can make a major impact on the health of the populations. At the same time, there is widespread recognition that HRH crises particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) impede the achievement of better health outcomes/targets. In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equitable access to a skilled and motivated health worker within a performing health system is need to be ensured. This review contributes to the vast pool of literature towards the assessment of HRH for maternal health and is focused on interventions delivered by skilled birth attendants (SBAs). Studies were included if (a) any HRH interventions in management system, policy, finance, education, partnership, and leadership were implemented; (b) these were related to SBA; (c) reported outcomes related to maternal health; (d) the studies were conducted in LMICs; and (e) studies were in English. Studies were excluded if traditional birth attendants and/or community health workers were trained. The review identified 25 studies which revealed reasons for poor maternal health outcomes in LMICs despite the efforts and policies implemented throughout these years. This review suggested an urgent and immediate need for formative evidence-based research on effective HRH interventions for improved maternal health outcomes. Other initiatives such as education and empowerment of women, alleviating poverty, establishing gender equality, and provision of infrastructure, equipment, drugs, and supplies are all integral components that are required to achieve SDGs by reducing maternal mortality and improving maternal health.

Maternal and health service predictors of postpartum hemorrhage across 14 district, general and regional hospitals in Thailand

“…This finding was similar to previous published studies where hospital levels appeared to influence resources allocation and performance outcome of health care providers providing effective care [29] as well as PPH management [6]. Although it is clear that sufficient resource allocation can prevent maternal complications after delivery [30,31], many health care institutions could not provide the standard of EmOC which is recommended by WHO [16,29,32,33].…”

Primary Health Care Policy Implementation Performance in Bangladesh: Affecting Factors

“…In previous studies by the scholars contented the hypothesis mostly qualitative in different content and country context as such the research study of ;Berman, (1978), Lipsky, (1980) Dussault & Dubois, (2003, Kress, Su, & Wang, (2016), Lassi et al, (2016), Edwards, (1980, & Voradej Chandarasorn, (2005). Hence, from the examination, the third hypothesis was not satisfied and not accepted.…”

Retention and Task Shifting in Human Resources for Health through Data Mining

“…At the same time, there is widespread recognition that human resources for health (HRH) crises particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) impede the achievement of better health outcomes/targets (Lassi et al, 2016). The proposals for re-defining the roles Africa's health workforce have centred on basing the continent's healthcare delivery on non-physician clinicians (NPCs) who can be quickly trained and widely distributed to treat majority of the common diseases (Olapade-Olaopa, Sewankambo, & Iputo, 2017).…”

“…In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equitable access to a skilled and motivated health worker within a performing health system is need to be ensured (Lassi et al, 2016). The recruitment and retention of health professionals in remote and rural areas is challenging; a lack of health professionals correlates with the poorer health status of remote and rural residents (Campbell, McAllister, & Eley, 2012).…”