Newsletter May 2015
ICRH Global Newsletter 28th of May, 2015
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ICRH Belgium Internship program of the program is one year. Applications can be submitted until 15 June 2015. More information and guidelines for application can be found at ICRH’s website: http://icrhb.org/news/icrh-research-internship-program-0 |
PROJECTS |
Global Early Adolescent Study in Ecuador |
Sexuality education in Uganda |
EVENTS |
MOMI at the European Commission EUROPEAID External Cooperation Infopoint Session on the project ‘Missed Opportunities in Maternal and Infant Health’ (MOMI) MOMI project research staff, Els Duysburgh, Emilomo Ogbe (ICRH-Belgium) and Sofia Moura (Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Portugal), had a EUROPEAID Infopoint session on the MOMI project at the European Commission in Brussels on Monday, the 13th of April, 2015. MOMI is implemented in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. The project aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in the year after childbirth through combined facility and community-based interventions. The theme of the Infopoint session was ‘Research serving Development; Rethinking Development and EU Aid: A focus on Reproductive Health’ The audience included civil society organisations, researchers and other stakeholders in the field of health policy and reproductive health. Emilomo presented the process used to design and select the MOMI interventions. Sofia presented the results of the MOMI baseline assessment and gave an overview of factors, hindering and enabling sustainability of the MOMI interventions. An interactive ‘question and answer’ session followed, during which a more detailed discussion of the project ensued. |
Seminar on child and early marriage The practice of forced child marriages is also in Belgium a reality. The study showed that forced marriage is an issue among ethnic minorities that are resident in Belgium since a long time, as well as newcomers. In some communities, such as Roma or Afghan communities, child marriage is practiced. Women have less opportunities than men to escape or refuse a forced marriage. The persistence of the practice is due to strong psychological pressure from the family and community, in Belgium or from abroad, causing loyalty conflicts in the (potential) victims. The study also demonstrated that professionals do not feel comfortable to deal with child and forced marriages, due to a lack of intercultural competencies, lack of information and of practical instruments to detect and recognise a forced marriage, lack of intervention protocols and insufficient knowledge of the current legal framework and the rights of the victims. Moreover, legislation does exist, but it is insufficiently known and its application remains difficult. A national action plan, drawn up by the Institute, will be submitted to the competent governments. It includes recommendations for the development of concrete instruments to quickly and effectively detect forced marriages. More news on the Belgian news sites (in Dutch): http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20150323_01595092 |
MOMI Field visit in Kaya District, Burkina Faso |
Sexual Behaviour Survey results showcase |
Lunch time conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights On 15 April 2015, the European Commission organised a lunch time conference under the title SRHR – a smart investment for global health and development. The conference took place in Brussels within the context of the ‘European Year for Development’. The aim was to bring evidence of how supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights is a fair and efficient intervention to contribute to global health and sustainable development. The confer-ence showcased different EC-funded projects that have been contributing to improving health in South Asia, Eastern Africa and Latin America. Among the presenters was our colleague Sara De Meyer, who presented ICRH’s CERCA project (Community-embedded reproductive health care for adolescents in Latin America). Other presenters were Aurore Guieu of IPPF European Network, Peter Schaffler of Marie Stopes International, Joyce Ampumuza of DSW and Véronique Lorenzo of the EC Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO). |
Hebei Medical University On 29 April 2015, a cooperation agreement was signed between Ghent University and Hebei Medical University (HMU) The cooperation between Hebei Province and the Belgian Province of East Flanders has a history of more than 20 years, and has led to many fruitful contacts and exchanges in different fields. Within this context, also academic cooperation, and more specifically between Hebei Medical University and ICRH/Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Ghent University has been initiated. Since 2010 there have been regular contacts and exchanges between both institutions. By signing a cooperation agreement, we aim to consolidate our relationship and to intensify our collaboration. It opens the possibility to set up exchange programmes for staff and students, and it creates a framework for new research partnerships. The agreement was signed during a ceremony in Shijiazhuang, China by prof. dr. Cui Huixian, president of Hebei Medical University, and prof. dr. Guy Vanderstraeten, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Ghent University. ICRH was represented by prof. dr. Wei-Hong Zhang, who has initiated the collaboration and who is in addition to senior researcher at ICRH also visiting professor at HMU. |
PUBLICATIONS |
ICRH Belgium Activity Report 2014 The 2014 Activity Report of ICRH Belgium is available and can be downloaded from the ICRH website. The report contains among others a full overview of projects and publications of 2014. A PDF version can be downloaded at HERE. |
Risk factors for stillbirths in Tete, Mozambique A case-control study to evaluate known risk factors for stillbirth and identify local priorities for stillbirth prevention among institutional deliveries in Tete, Mozambique. A case–control study was conducted among 150 women who experienced stillbirths and 300 wom-en who experienced live deliveries at three health facilities between December 1, 2009, and April 30, 2011. Case and control individuals were matched for health facility, age, and parity. Sociodemo-graphic, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics (including HIV and syphilis serology) were assessed. Bivariate associations and a conditional logistic regression model identified variables contributing to foetal outcome. No between-group differences were recorded in the frequency of infection with HIV or syphilis at delivery. Multivariate analysis revealed that stillbirth was associated with direct obstetric complica-tions, low socioeconomic status, and referral during childbirth. The authors conclude that stillbirths in Tete, Mozambique, were predominantly caused by direct obstetric complications requiring referral among women of low socioeconomic status. Prenatal management of HIV and syphilis limited effects on foetal outcome. Emergency obstetric care and referral systems should be the focus of interventions aimed at stillbirth prevention. Diederike Geelhoed, Jocelijn Stokx, Xavier Mariano, Carla Mosse Lázaro, Kristien Roelens. Risk factors for stillbirths in Tete, Mozambique. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 05/2015, doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.03.027. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002072921500260X |