Publication: Preserving Rwanda's Progress Towards Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality and Ensuring Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services: A Long-standing Commitment with a New Perspective
Loading...
Date
2024-03-01
ISSN
Published
2024-03-01
Editor(s)
Abstract
Improvements in the health outcomes of women, young girls, and children will be key to Rwanda attaining three of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focused on good health and well-being (SDG3), gender equality (SDG5), and reduced inequalities (SDG10). However, the direct and indirect effects of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and other emergencies threaten to stall and even undermine these achievements. To promote continued progress towards reducing maternal and child mortality and ensure equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services, Rwanda may consider prioritizing initiatives that ensure a steady provision of those services with a well-informed population to maintain and increase the demand of these routine health services, particularly in the context of the unexpected.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Gordillo-Tobar, Amparo; Prata, Neia; Akala, Francisca Ayodeji; De Francisco Serpa, Nataliya. 2024. Preserving Rwanda's Progress Towards Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality and Ensuring Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services: A Long-standing Commitment with a New Perspective. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/41450 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Integrating the Response to NCDS and Mental Health in the Context of Building Resilient Health Systems in Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-04-03)From June 6 to 8, 2023, the Ministry of Health of Rwanda organized an event entitled “Integrating the Response to Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health (MH) in the Context of Building Resilient Health Systems in Africa” followed by a technical workshop, with the participation of representatives from the governments of Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The event and the workshop were prepared by the World Bank Group (WBG), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and with collaboration from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and other multilateral agencies and nonprofit organizations. The workshop was under funding provided by the Access Accelerated (AA) Trust Fund. The full program of the event is included at the end of this summary report.The rate of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the African Region increased by 67 percent between 1990 and 2017. In 2019 NCDs were responsible for 37 percent of African deaths, and by the year 2030, they will be the main cause of the burden of disease in the Region. The incidence of mental health (MH) challenges increased by 13 percent in the Region since 2017. In addition, Africa is experiencing high rates of suicide and alcohol abuse, especially among young people. Yet, the average per capita expenditure on MH provision in African countries is US$0.46, with only 1.6 health professionals per 100,000 population working in this field. Primary health care and community-based services are essential strategies to support health systems and to avoid the consequences of early mortality and the social and economic losses brought on by the increased incidence of NCDs and MH. The challenges imposed by NCDs require a stronger collaboration among African countries to see how policies developed in different countries could be adaptative to other regional needs and contexts. Countries participating in the workshop shared some achievements and discussed the challenges ahead for the integration of the provision of mental health services and NCDs care at the first level of care.Publication MDGs 4 and 5 : Maternal and Child Health/Reproductive Health in LAC(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-06)The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region fares well on achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets when compared with other regions, but the region has great disparities between and within countries on these goals. The region is also performing better than the rest of the developing world in relation to child mortality, having achieved more than 70 percent of the progress needed to reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds. However LAC still faces serious challenges regarding maternal mortality, achieving good public and individual health and alleviating poverty. For LAC, the MDGs are a historic opportunity to address all forms of inequality and attain the political will needed to achieve these goals.Publication Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Nicaragua : An Analysis Using a Sexual and Reproductive Health Framework and Human Rights(2014-11)In an effort to integrate operational and analytical work on adolescents and youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and Human Rights in Nicaragua, the World Bank, in coordination with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted the study titled: sexual and reproductive health among youth in Latin America: adding a human rights perspective. The study was conducted within the umbrella of the ongoing Family Community Health World Bank project. To gain a better understanding of the SRH and Human Rights in the country, the study, funded by the Nordic Development Trust Fund (NTF), reviewed the national legal framework and the school curricula; consulted focus groups for adolescents from representative samples in four geographic regions; and integrated the results of the study into a national multi-sectoral strategy on adolescents sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The strategy will inform the Bank s operational plans and agreements for the next five years.Publication Maternal and Child Health(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017-09)The aim of this paper is to explore the advances made in maternal and child health (MCH) over the past 25 years, analyzing World Bank Group (WBG) operational investments in MCH, as countries shift their focus to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Maternal mortality decreased by 44 percent over the past 25 years with an annual rate of reduction of 2.4 percent, yet to reach SDG target 3.1, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) must decrease by 7.5 percent per year by 2030. Maternal mortality has negative consequences as it leads to greater family financial instability, loss of education, and increased child mortality. Evidence shows that skilled birth attendance and maternal education reduces the likelihood of maternal mortality (UNESCO, 2013). When comparing primary school net enrolment and primary school completion with maternal mortality, it appears that national MMR averages are influenced by education. Also, MMR is influenced by the delivery of health care and socioeconomic indicators, which may lead to inequities at the national and subnational levels.While significant progress has been made in reducing the under-five mortality rate (U5MR), neonatal mortality rate (NMR) reduction has lagged. The WBG has 86 active projects that include activities that improve women and children’s health. Many projects focus on antenatal care and delivery services, followed by children under 5 years, and family planning. As part of the operationalization of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030), the WBG could develop an inclusive Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health Action Plan. The new, inclusive Action Plan would comprehensively build on the existing platforms and elements of the WBG, including the Global Financing Facility; Civil Registration and Vital Statistics; the World Bank Group Gender Strategy (2016-2023): Gender equality, poverty reduction and inclusive growth; fragility, conflict and violence; and the International Development Association (IDA18) commitments and all WBG client countries, supporting them across varying levels of need and income, targeting the poorest and most vulnerable.Publication Achieving Gender Equity in Health(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-08)Gender significantly impacts health outcomes, influencing lifestyle, well-being, and healthcare access throughout a person’s life. Bridging gender gaps in health can enhance human capital and ensure equitable health opportunities for all sexes. Achieving gender equity in health necessitates a systematic approach across health systems, with universal health coverage (UHC) and integrated primary health care (PHC) services providing a crucial platform. Five priority investment areas are highlighted: comprehensive sexual, reproductive, adolescent, and maternal health services; healthcare coverage for older adults; gender equality in health leadership; mental health coverage under UHC; and reducing gender disparities in pandemic preparedness and emergency response. These investments can empower women, girls, and other gender identities, support healthy aging, improve mental health access, and ensure effective health leadership and pandemic response.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Remarks at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-10-12)World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed biodiversity and climate change being closely interlinked, with terrestrial and marine ecosystems serving as critically important carbon sinks. At the same time climate change acts as a direct driver of biodiversity and ecosystem services loss. The World Bank has financed biodiversity conservation around the world, including over 116 million hectares of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, 10 million hectares of Terrestrial Protected Areas, and over 300 protected habitats, biological buffer zones and reserves. The COVID pandemic, biodiversity loss, climate change are all reminders of how connected we are. The recovery from this pandemic is an opportunity to put in place more effective policies, institutions, and resources to address biodiversity loss.Publication Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, Fall 2024: Better Education for Stronger Growth(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-17)Economic growth in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) is likely to moderate from 3.5 percent in 2023 to 3.3 percent this year. This is significantly weaker than the 4.1 percent average growth in 2000-19. Growth this year is driven by expansionary fiscal policies and strong private consumption. External demand is less favorable because of weak economic expansion in major trading partners, like the European Union. Growth is likely to slow further in 2025, mostly because of the easing of expansion in the Russian Federation and Turkiye. This Europe and Central Asia Economic Update calls for a major overhaul of education systems across the region, particularly higher education, to unleash the talent needed to reinvigorate growth and boost convergence with high-income countries. Universities in the region suffer from poor management, outdated curricula, and inadequate funding and infrastructure. A mismatch between graduates' skills and the skills employers are seeking leads to wasted potential and contributes to the region's brain drain. Reversing the decline in the quality of education will require prioritizing improvements in teacher training, updated curricula, and investment in educational infrastructure. In higher education, reforms are needed to consolidate university systems, integrate them with research centers, and provide reskilling opportunities for adult workers.Publication Economic Recovery(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-04-06)World Bank Group President David Malpass spoke about the world facing major challenges, including COVID, climate change, rising poverty and inequality and growing fragility and violence in many countries. He highlighted vaccines, working closely with Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF, the World Bank has conducted over one hundred capacity assessments, many even more before vaccines were available. The World Bank Group worked to achieve a debt service suspension initiative and increased transparency in debt contracts at developing countries. The World Bank Group is finalizing a new climate change action plan, which includes a big step up in financing, building on their record climate financing over the past two years. He noted big challenges to bring all together to achieve GRID: green, resilient, and inclusive development. Janet Yellen, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, mentioned focusing on vulnerable people during the pandemic. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, focused on giving everyone a fair shot during a sustainable recovery. All three commented on the importance of tackling climate change.Publication South Asia Development Update, April 2024: Jobs for Resilience(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-04-02)South Asia is expected to continue to be the fastest-growing emerging market and developing economy (EMDE) region over the next two years. This is largely thanks to robust growth in India, but growth is also expected to pick up in most other South Asian economies. However, growth in the near-term is more reliant on the public sector than elsewhere, whereas private investment, in particular, continues to be weak. Efforts to rein in elevated debt, borrowing costs, and fiscal deficits may eventually weigh on growth and limit governments' ability to respond to increasingly frequent climate shocks. Yet, the provision of public goods is among the most effective strategies for climate adaptation. This is especially the case for households and farms, which tend to rely on shifting their efforts to non-agricultural jobs. These strategies are less effective forms of climate adaptation, in part because opportunities to move out of agriculture are limited by the region’s below-average employment ratios in the non-agricultural sector and for women. Because employment growth is falling short of working-age population growth, the region fails to fully capitalize on its demographic dividend. Vibrant, competitive firms are key to unlocking the demographic dividend, robust private investment, and workers’ ability to move out of agriculture. A range of policies could spur firm growth, including improved business climates and institutions, the removal of financial sector restrictions, and greater openness to trade and capital flows.Publication Media and Messages for Nutrition and Health(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-06)The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has experienced rapid and significant economic growth over the past decade. However, poor nutritional outcomes remain a concern. Rates of childhood undernutrition are particularly high in remote, rural, and upland areas. Media have the potential to play an important role in shaping health and nutrition–related behaviors and practices as well as in promoting sociocultural and economic development that might contribute to improved nutritional outcomes. This report presents the results of a media audit (MA) that was conducted to inform the development and production of mass media advocacy and communication strategies and materials with a focus on maternal and child health and nutrition that would reach the most people from the poorest communities in northern Lao PDR. Making more people aware of useful information, essential services and products and influencing them to use these effectively is the ultimate goal of mass media campaigns, and the MA measures the potential effectiveness of media efforts to reach this goal. The effectiveness of communication channels to deliver health and nutrition messages to target beneficiaries to ensure maximum reach and uptake can be viewed in terms of preferences, satisfaction, and trust. Overall, the four most accessed media channels for receiving information among communities in the study areas were village announcements, mobile phones, television, and out-of-home (OOH) media. Of the accessed media channels, the top three most preferred channels were village announcements (40 percent), television (26 percent), and mobile phones (19 percent). In terms of trust, village announcements were the most trusted source of information (64 percent), followed by mobile phones (14 percent) and television (11 percent). Hence of all the media channels, village announcements are the most preferred, have the most satisfied users, and are the most trusted source of information in study communities from four provinces in Lao PDR with some of the highest burden of childhood undernutrition.