Implementing health system strengthening projects at USAID: Findings from five cases using an integrated framework.

Evidence on the implementation of health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions is scarce. Donors need this information to prioritise investments and lobby for continued financial support. To develop a deeper understanding of the implementation dynamics of robust HSS interventions, we retrospectively compared five USAID-supported projects in the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, and Zambia.

Ophthalmic outcomes following neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy; oculomotor, biometric and refractive data in early childhood.

Objectives: To investigate the functional and structural impact of neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) on childhood visual development.

Methods: In a prospective study, the neurocognitive outcomes of 42 children with a history of neonatal HIE were assessed serially up to 5 years. For the ophthalmic component of the study, visual, refractive, orthoptic and ocular biometry measurements were obtained in 32 children, with axial length measurements estimated using the IOLMaster.

Gonorrhoea gone wild: rising incidence of gonorrhoea and associated risk factors among gay and bisexual men attending Australian sexual health clinics.

Unlabelled: Background Gonorrhoea notifications continue to rise among gay and bisexual men in Australia and around the world. More information is needed on infection trends, accounting for testing and complimented by demographics and risk practices.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken using repeat gonorrhoea testing data among gay and bisexual men from 2010 to 2017, which was extracted from a network of 47 sexual health clinics across Australia.

T-bet and Gata3 in controlling type 1 and type 2 immunity mediated by innate lymphoid cells.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are an emerging group of innate lymphocytes that share functional and transcriptional attributes with the various T helper cell effector fates (e.g. Th1, Th2, Th17).

Why differentiating between health system support and health system strengthening is needed.

There is increasing recognition that efforts to improve global health cannot be achieved without stronger health systems. Interpretation of health system strengthening (HSS) has varied widely however, with much of the focus to-date on alleviating input constraints, whereas less attention has been given to other performance drivers. It is important to distinguish activities that support the health system, from ones that strengthen the health system.