[Intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths: quality information and its analysis to reduce maternal mortalityBusca intencional e reclassificação de mortes maternas: informação de qualidade e sua análise para reduzir a mortalidade materna].

Objective: To describe the methodology of the intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths (BIRMM, acronym in Spanish), which allows the identification and correction of misclassification and underreporting of maternal deaths.

Methods: The BIRMM methodology, initially developed in Mexico in 2003 and disseminated in other Latin American countries since 2012, was used. BIRMM consists of four key components: i) reclassification of confirmed maternal deaths; ii) identification and investigation of suspected cases of maternal death; iii) cross-referencing with other information sources; and iv) publication of results and statistical analysis.

Women's mental health and COVID-19: increased vulnerability and inequalities.

Introduction: The impact of COVID-19 on mental health has become a relevant object of research. Studies have demonstrated that women have experienced greater mental health challenges, highlighting the importance of public health systems to address women's specific needs.

Methods: This literature review explores the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on psychological distress among women, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject and to explore how these research findings can guide public mental health care responses in crisis settings.

Post pregnancy family planning in Latin America and the Caribbean analysis and strengths in training on immediate contraception post obstetric event by CLAP/PAHO.

Virtual courses developed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on family planning and immediate contraception post obstetric event (ICPOE) were launched in 2021 as training actions on ICPOE in the region. A total of 89,899 people enrolled in these courses; 36,494 (40.7%) of them enrolled in the course on ICPOE, and almost 60% of participants from Latin America passed the course.

Development of a new definition of maternal near miss based on organ dysfunction in Latin America and the Caribbean: A prospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: There has been debate over whether the existing World Health Organization (WHO) criteria accurately represent the severity of maternal near misses.

Objective: This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of two WHO clinical and laboratory organ dysfunction markers for determining the best cutoff values in a Latin American setting.

Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in five Latin American countries.

A Systematic Review on Psychological Interventions for Sexual Health in Older Age.

Objectives: The present review aims to identify the existing evidence on outcome-treatment studies of psychological sexual health interventions in older age.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted for studies published until October 2022. Data search was conducted on EBSCO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases.

Digital health and the promise of equity in maternity care: A mixed methods multi-country assessment on the use of information and communication technologies in healthcare facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Introduction: Timely access to maternity care is critical to saving lives. Digital health may serve to bridge the care chasm and advance health equity. Conducted in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, this cross-sectional mixed-methods study assessed the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in healthcare facilities in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries to understand the landscape of ICT use in maternity care and the barriers and facilitators to its adoption.

Description of maternal and neonatal adverse events in pregnant people immunised with COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy in the CLAP NETWORK of sentinel sites. Nested case-control analysis of the immunization-associated risk: A study protocol.

Introduction: COVID-19 is associated with higher morbimortality in pregnant people compared with non-pregnant people. At present, the benefits of maternal immunisation are considered to outweigh the risks, and therefore, vaccination is recommended during pregnancy. However, additional information is needed on the safety of the vaccines in this population.

Neonatal mortality in countries of the Americas, 2000-2020: trends, inequalities, and target-setting.

Objective: To analyze temporal trends and inequalities in neonatal mortality between 2000 and 2020, and to set neonatal mortality targets for 2025 and 2030 in the Americas.

Methods: A descriptive ecological study was conducted using 33 countries of the Americas as units of analysis. Both the percentage change and average annual percentage change in neonatal mortality rates were estimated.

The burden of stillbirths in low resource settings in Latin America: Evidence from a network using an electronic surveillance system.

Objective: To determine stillbirth ratio and its association with maternal, perinatal, and delivery characteristics, as well as geographic differences in Latin American countries (LAC).

Methods: We analysed data from the Perinatal Information System of the Latin American Center for Perinatology and Human Development (CLAP) between January 2018 and June 2021 in 8 health facilities from five LAC countries (Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic). Maternal, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics, in addition to pregnancy outcomes were reported.

Neonatal outcomes according to different degrees of maternal morbidity: cross-sectional evidence from the Perinatal Information System (SIP) of the CLAP network.

Background: The burden of maternal morbidity in neonatal outcomes can vary with the adequacy of healthcare provision and tool implementation to improve monitoring. Such information is lacking in Latin American countries, where the decrease in severe maternal morbidity and maternal death remains challenging.

Objectives: To determine neonatal outcomes according to maternal characteristics, including different degrees of maternal morbidity in Latin American health facilities.

Surveillance of severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality in maternity hospitals of the Latin American and Caribbean network - Red CLAP: study protocol.

The sustained reduction in maternal mortality in America underlines the need to analyse women who survived a complication that could have been fatal if appropriate and timely care had not been taken. Analysis of maternal near-miss (MNM) cases, as well as potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC), are considered indicators for monitoring the quality of maternal care. The specific objective of this study protocol is to develop a surveillance system for PLTC, MNM and maternal mortality, as primary outcomes, in Latin American and Caribbean maternal healthcare institutions.

The impact of maternal morbidity on cesarean section rates: exploring a Latin American network of sentinel facilities using the Robson's Ten Group Classification System.

Background: Latin America has the highest Cesarean Section Rates (CSR) in the world. Robson's Ten Group Classification System (RTGCS) was developed to enable understanding the CSR in different groups of women, classified according to obstetric characteristics into one of ten groups. The size of each CS group may provide helpful data on quality of care in a determined region or setting.

Analysing the context and characteristics of legal abortion and comprehensive post-abortion care among adolescents aged 10-14 in a network of sentinel centres in Latin America: a retrospective cross-sectional study, 2016-2020.

Pregnancy-related complications are a substantial source of morbidity and mortality among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. While the youngest adolescents (those aged 10-14) are considered to be at particularly high risk of adverse outcomes, there is little empirical data available on their sexual and reproductive health. Using a unique dataset of clinical records drawn from a regional network of sentinel centres providing legal abortion and comprehensive post-abortion care in 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries, we described the population of adolescents aged 10-14 seeking legal abortion and post-abortion care and calculated institutional rates of complications, using older adolescents (aged 15-19) and young adults (aged 20-24) as comparator groups.

[Strategies for health services in women, newborns, children, and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in countries of Americas].

The article analyzes the perceived challenges and strategies implemented in five Latin American and Caribbean countries to ensure continuity of care and access to health services for women, newborns, children, and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study corresponds to a quick assessment based on semi-structured interviews with key informants in countries selected by convenience: Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Grenada, and the Dominican Republic. Interviews were conducted with 23 key informants: (a) decision makers at the national and/or subnational level, (b) healthcare professionals, and (c) representatives of civil society organizations; from December 2020 to January 2021.

A systematic review of sexual health and subjective well-being in older age groups.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed at assessing the associations between sexual health and subjective well-being in older age groups (i.e. people aged between 40 and ≥90 years).

Predicting severe maternal outcomes in a network of sentinel sites in Latin-American countries.

Objective: This study aimed to determine incidences of potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC), maternal near misses (MNM), and maternal deaths (MD) in women who gave birth in participating facilities, and to determine the probability that a pregnancy involving a PLTC would evolve into an MNM and/or an MD.

Methods: This was a multicentric observational study implemented on a maternal network from August 2018 to May 2019 in five Latin-American countries. We summarized categorical variables as frequencies and continuous variables with median, interquartile range, and standard deviations.

Potential of LARC to recover loss in satisfied demand for modern contraception after the COVID-19 pandemic: a case scenario analysis of Brazil and Mexico.

Objectives: To estimate inequalities in demand for family planning satisfied with modern methods among women in Latin America and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on Brazil and Mexico, and to calculate the scenario for recovery of modern contraceptive coverage by expanding access to long-acting contraceptives (LARC) after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: National health surveys from 2006 to 2018 were used to estimate the demand for family planning satisfied with modern methods and how it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scenario included three variables: coverage, health outcomes, and costs.

Cesarean section in Uruguay from 2008 to 2018: country analysis based on the Robson classification. An observational study.

Background: The use of caesarean section has steadily increased, with Latin America being the region with the highest rates. Multiple factors account for that increase and the Robson classification is appropriate to compare determinants at the clinical level for caesarean section rates over time. The purpose of this study is to describe the evolution of caesarean section rates by Robson groups in Uruguay from 2008 to 2018 using a country level database.

Information and communication technologies in neonatal health.

Objectives: To identify scientific evidence on the use and results of information and communication technologies for the improvement of neonatal health in general or specific health problems or interventions, and to describe the type of intervention and its results.

Methods: A systematic review of the available evidence was performed. The search was carried out in peer-reviewed journals between January 1, 2008 and April 30, 2018, in English and Spanish.

EviSIP: using evidence to change practice through mentorship - an innovative experience for reproductive health in the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

Maternal mortality is unacceptably high in our region. In 2015, the Latin American Center for Perinatology and Women´s Reproductive Health (CLAP) created a regional network of institutions including 16 countries, committed to improving epidemiological surveillance and healthcare of women in a situation of abortion or near miss event, using a common platform, the Perinatal Information System (SIP). The objective of the current pilot project was to test a new method of study called EviSIP (Evidence from SIP), a method of generating information on maternal near miss and abortion for the region.

COVID-19 and newborn health: systematic review.

Objective: To describe perinatal and neonatal outcomes in newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed Central, LILACS, and Google Scholar using the keywords 'covid ' AND 'newborn' OR 'child' OR 'infant,' on 18 March 2020, and again on 17 April 2020. One researcher conducted the search and extracted data on demographics, maternal outcomes, diagnostic tests, imaging, and neonatal outcomes.

Call to action for a South American network to fight COVID-19 in pregnancy.

A call to action for joint efforts by South American centers to tackle COVID‐19 in pregnancy.