Challenges and facilitators to evidence-based decision-making for maternal and child health in Mozambique: district, municipal and national case studies.

Background: The need for evidence-based decision-making in the health sector is well understood in the global health community. Yet, gaps persist between the availability of evidence and the use of that evidence. Most research on evidence-based decision-making has been carried out in higher-income countries, and most studies look at policy-making rather than decision-making more broadly.

Obstacles to advancing women's health in Mozambique: a qualitative investigation into the perspectives of policy makers.

Background: Despite substantial investment in women's health over the past two decades, and enthusiastic government support for MDG 5 and SDG 3, health indicators for women in Mozambique remain among the lowest in the world. Maternal mortality stayed constant from 2003 to 2011, with an MMR of 408; the estimated HIV prevalence for women of 15-24 years is over twice that for men; and only 12.1% of women are estimated to be using modern contraception.

Projecting the lives saved by continuing the historical scale-up of child and maternal health interventions in Mozambique until 2030.

Background: Over the past 20 years, Mozambique has achieved substantial reductions in maternal, neonatal, and child mortality. However, mortality rates are still high, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for maternal and child health, further gains are needed. One technique that can guide policy makers to more effectively allocate health resources is to model the coverage increases and lives saved that would be achieved if trends continue as they have in the past, and under differing alternative scenarios.

Intervention heroes of Mozambique from 1997 to 2015: estimates of maternal and child lives saved using the Lives Saved Tool.

Background: As one of several countries that pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mozambique sought to reduce child, neonatal, and maternal mortality by two thirds by 2015. This study examines the impact of Mozambique's efforts between 1997 and 2015, highlighting the increases in intervention coverage that contributed to saving the most lives.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of available household survey data was conducted using the Lives Saved Tool (LiST).

Unseen, unheard and unprotected: prevalence and correlates of violence among female sex workers in Mozambique.

Violence against women, including female sex workers, is a public health concern worldwide. This is the first study in Mozambique to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with physical and sexual violence against female sex workers. We used data collected from 1,250 women recruited using respondent-driven sampling in the cities of Maputo, Beira and Nampula in 2011-12.

Reaching substantive female representation among decision-makers: A qualitative research study of gender-related experiences from the health sector in Mozambique.

Background: Achieving significant female representation in government at decision-making levels has been identified as a key step towards achieving gender equality. In 2015, women held 39.6% of parliamentary seats in Mozambique, which is above the benchmark of 30% that has been suggested as the turning point for minority representation to move from token status to having a sizable impact.

High Burden of HIV Infection and Risk Behaviors Among Female Sex Workers in Three Main Urban Areas of Mozambique.

This is the first integrated biological and behavioral survey among female sex workers (FSW) in Mozambique. Using respondent-driven sampling, 400, 411 and 429 FSW were enrolled respectively in Maputo, Beira and Nampula in 2011-2012. Estimates were produced using RDSAT 7.

Bed-sharing and risk of hospitalisation due to pneumonia and diarrhoea in infancy: the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort.

Objective: To investigate the association between bed-sharing with the mother at 3 months of age and incidence of hospitalisation due to pneumonia and diarrhoea between 3 and 12 months.

Methods: The 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort included all live births to mothers living in Pelotas, Brazil, in 2004. Information on bed-sharing was obtained at the 3-month follow-up visit, and on hospitalisations at the 12-month visit, both based on mothers' reports.

Mental health problems and smoking among adolescents from Southern Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the association between mental health problems and smoking in adolescents.

Methods: A total of 4,325 adolescents aged 15 from the 1993 birth cohort of the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, was studied. Smoking was defined as having smoked one or more cigarettes in the previous 30 days.