Validity of using mobile phone surveys to evaluate community health worker program in Mali.

Background: The monitoring and evaluation of public health programs based on traditional face-to-face interviews in hard-to-reach and unstable regions present many challenges. Mobile phone-based methods are considered to be an effective alternative, but the validity of mobile phone-based data for assessing implementation strength has not been sufficiently studied yet. Nested within an evaluation project for an integrated community case management (iCCM) and family planning program in Mali, this study aimed to assess the validity of a mobile phone-based health provider survey to measure the implementation strength of this program.

Career mobility of maternal care providers in Mali: a mixed method study on midwives and obstetric nurses.

Background: An important strategy to reduce maternal and child mortality in Mali is to increase the number of deliveries assisted by qualified personnel in primary care facilities, especially in rural areas. However, placements and retention of healthcare professionals in rural areas are a major problem, not only in Mali but worldwide, and are a challenge to the health sector. The purpose of this study was to map the mobility of midwives and obstetric nurses during their work lives, in order to better understand their career paths and the role that working in rural areas plays.

[Midwives’ intention to leave primary level care services in Mali].

Background: Mali is a country with a high rate of maternal and neonatal deaths and a low density of human resources for health. The health system faces understaffing and inequitable distribution of available resources. Health staff are reluctant to take positions and stay in first level care services.

[Formative research on community-based vital events registration in Mali].

Objectives: The under-five mortality rate in Mali is high, with most deaths occurring in the community where there is no reliable vital events registration. The objective of this study was to collect data on community-based vital events registration in the Niono and Baroueli districts of the Segou region, in order to improve the community-based vital events registration system.

Methods: Data collection for this cross-sectional, descriptive, and qualitative study was conducted in May 2010.

[Tetanus vaccination of women of childbearing age in Bamako (Mali)].

In Mali, despite the existence of a national vaccination policy, coverage of neonatal tetanus remains low. According to the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) IV Mali, the rate of births protected against neonatal tetanus is 56%. The objective of this study was to investigate the status of tetanus toxoid (TT) in women of reproductive age (WRA) in the municipality V of Bamako District.

[Vitamin A supplementation in children under five during a one-week nutrition intensification program in Mali].

Introduction: The National Nutrition Week (NNW) is designed to achieve 80% coverage of vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6 to 59 months. The objectives of this study were to describe the modalities of implementation of the NNW in 2006 in Mali and to document parents' and health workers' opinions.

Methods: A qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases in May and June 2006 in four health districts (Kita, Kolondiéba, Dire and town VI of Bamako) selected at random.

[Smoking at school in a commune of Bamako, Mali].

Heavy smoking causes 4 million deaths worldwide, more than 70% being in the developing countries. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of heavy smoking and to identify the factors which influence it in school settings in Bamako. We carried out a cross-sectional investigation in April 2009, in 8 randomly selected schools in a town of Bamako, with a sample of 328 pupils over 11 years of age.

[Knowledge and practices of traditionnal birth attendant on birth asphyxia in Kolokani (Mali)].

Introduction: In Mali, according to the DHS IV in 2006, the neonatal mortality rate is 46 per thousand live births and is higher in rural areas (61‰) than in urban areas (45‰). The proportion of home births is 54%.

Unlabelled: The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge and practices of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) on pregnancy and newborn asphyxia in the health district of Kolokani.

[Training mothers: a strategy to improve the treatment of acute respiratory infections among children in Mali].

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a major public health issue in Mali. The objective of this study was to examine the management of ARI within the community among children aged 2 to 59 months. The study was based on a pilot community intervention over a period of 15 months (June 2008-August 2009) in 4 health districts in Mali.