Joumana Haidar

Publications (2)9.46 Total impact

• Article: Preventing maternal and newborn deaths globally: using innovation and science to address challenges in implementing life-saving interventions.

  Herbert B Peterson, Joumana Haidar, Mario Merialdi, Lale Say, A Metin Gülmezoglu, Peter J Fajans, Michael T Mbizvo, Abdul Ghaffar, Nhan T Tran, Luc de Bernis, Laura Laski, Lynn P Freedman, Mickey Chopra
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  ABSTRACT: We have made important progress toward achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, with an estimated 47% decrease in maternal deaths and 28% decrease in newborn deaths globally since 1990. However, rapidly accelerating this progress is vital because far too many maternal and newborn deaths still occur each day. Fortunately, there are major initiatives underway to enhance global efforts in preventing these deaths, including the United Nations Secretary General's Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health. We know why maternal and newborn deaths occur, where they occur, and how they occur, and we have highly effective interventions for preventing them. Nearly all (99%) maternal and newborn deaths occur in developing countries where the implementation of life-saving interventions has been a major challenge. Determining how best to meet this challenge will require more intensive interrelated efforts that include not only science-driven guidance on effective interventions, but also strategies and plans for implementing these interventions. Implementation science, defined as "the study of methods to promote the integration of research findings and evidence into healthcare policy and practice," will be key as will innovations in both technologies and implementation processes. We will need to develop conceptual and operational frameworks that link innovation and implementation science to implementation challenges for the Global Strategy. Likewise, we will need to expand and strengthen close cooperation between those with responsibilities for implementation and those with responsibilities for developing and supporting science-driven interventions. Realizing the potential for the Global Strategy will require commitment, coordination, collaboration, and communication-and the women and newborns we serve deserve no less.
  Obstetrics and Gynecology 09/2012; 120(3):636-42. · 4.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Accelerating science-driven solutions to challenges in global reproductive health: a new framework for moving forward.

  Herbert B Peterson, Catherine d'Arcangues, Joumana Haidar, Kathryn M Curtis, Mario Merialdi, A Metin Gülmezoglu, Lale Say, Michael Mbizvo
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  ABSTRACT: Recommendations shaping policies, programs, and practices in global health should be based on the best available science, but how best to achieve this objective is less clear. We describe a new approach developed by the United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund/World Health Organization/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction within the World Health Organization Department of Reproductive Health and Research for addressing key challenges in global reproductive health. This approach leads to new recommendations for accelerating solutions to priority needs in the field and continued improvements in the science base-including the implementation science base-for meeting these needs. The key components of this new cycle for science-driven solutions include: 1) identifying priority needs of the field; 2) creating guidance that meets the needs of the field; 3) identifying research gaps and establishing and funding research priorities; 4) research synthesis and updating of the guidance in a timely fashion; and 5) supporting utilization in countries through systematic introduction of science-driven solutions. There is a synergistic effect when the contributions of the individual components of this cycle are linked. Strong institutional support is required for this collective effort, as is the creation of a team of researchers, practitioners, donors, and implementing agencies with shared responsibilities for its success. This new approach has already made important contributions toward addressing key challenges in family planning and maternal and perinatal health. We believe that it will help bridge the gap between knowledge and action for reproductive health and for global health more broadly.
  Obstetrics and Gynecology 03/2011; 117(3):720-6. · 4.73 Impact Factor