Understanding individual, family and community perspectives on delaying early birth among adolescent girls: findings from a formative evaluation in rural Bangladesh.

Background: Pregnancy among adolescent girls in Bangladesh is high, with 66% of women under the age of 18 reporting a first birth; this issue is particularly acute in the northern region of Bangladesh, an area that is especially impoverished and where girls are at heightened risk. Using formative research, CARE USA examined the underlying social, individual and structural factors influencing married girls' early first birth and participation in alternative opportunities (such as education or economic pursuits) in Bangladesh.

Methods: In July of 2017, researchers conducted in-depth interviews of community members in two sub-districts of northern Bangladesh (Kurigram Sadar and Rajarhat).

"It is a thing that depends on God": barriers to delaying first birth and pursuing alternative futures among newly married adolescent girls in Niger.

Background: Pregnancy among adolescent girls in Niger contributes to 34% of all deaths among females ages 15-19, but there is a dearth of research as to the specific contextual causes. In Zinder region, an area that is especially impoverished and where girls are at heightened risk, there is very little information on the main obstacles to improving adolescents' health and well-being. This qualitative study examines the underlying social, individual and structural factors influencing married girls' early first birth and participation in alternative opportunities (such as education or economic pursuits) in Niger.

'We pledge to improve the health of our entire community': Improving health worker motivation and performance in Bihar, India through teamwork, recognition, and non-financial incentives.

Background: Motivation is critical to health worker performance and work quality. In Bihar, India, frontline health workers provide essential health services for the state's poorest citizens. Yet, there is a shortfall of motivated and skilled providers and a lack of coordination between two cadres of frontline health workers and their supervisors.