Archive: May 2017

Episiotomies have long been a topic of debate among clinicians, researchers and advocates. Over the past two decades, a growing body of literature and increased advocacy efforts have led to a general consensus that episiotomy should not be conducted as a…

The devastating effects of obstetric fistula can be prevented and treated with timely, high quality medical care. Innovative interventions, such as mobile-based programs and community and peer support networks, can help women overcome barriers and access…

Despite living in diverse political, economic and sociocultural contexts, women who experience obstetric fistula (OF) often tell similar stories. Many have encountered extremely poor quality of care, been stigmatized by their families and communities and…

Fistula—a hole between the birth canal and another organ (typically the bladder or rectum)—is a tragic maternal morbidity, particularly in low-resource settings. Obstetric fistula, caused by prolonged or obstructed labor, is the most common type of…

As a leading cause of maternal mortality, preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy claim the lives of nearly 76,000 mothers and 500,000 babies worldwide every year. To raise awareness about preeclampsia as a life-threatening…

We are excited to announce the upcoming dialogue, "Humanitarian Response in Urban Settings: Meeting the Maternal and Newborn Health Needs of Displaced Persons." The event will take place at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. (and online!) on…

Ensuring that women receive high quality, respectful maternity care is essential, but designing and implementing indicators to accurately measure women’s experiences can be challenging. Professor Saraswathi Vedam and colleagues recently published two…

Replicating health interventions in new settings or scaling them up requires careful adaptation to reflect the complexity and diversity in different contexts. Implementation science can help generate evidence that is relevant and useful to…

Although the literature on violations of respectful maternity care principles around the globe is substantial, there have been relatively few studies conducted in the Nigerian context. A recent systematic review in PLOS One examined the quantitative and…

Diabetes in pregnancy is on the rise globally, currently affecting roughly 14 million women every year. As with most problems related to pregnancy complications, diabetes in pregnancy is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, which account…