The Center for Global Maternal, Newborn and Child Health brings together faculty and staff dedicated to improving the health of women, mothers, newborns and children where there are the greatest inequities in care and outcomes.
With a portfolio of projects and partners at UCSF and globally, the center is committed to equitable partnerships with our academic colleagues, centering community ownership and local priorities to guide our work, shifting the power dynamics in our collective efforts.
Our projects span multiple domains and areas of expertise. We create and implement new techniques for provider training and facility quality improvement, invest in the discovery of new tools and technologies, work to understand and design interventions to address the drivers of gender-based health inequities, lead global efforts to establish early child development norms, and provide technical consultation and capacity strengthening to support the goal of localizing investments geographically.
Current Work
The impact of group-based life skills and health empowerment for young, married women to avoid unintended pregnancies in India
This R01 aims to test the impact of a reproductive health and empowerment intervention in Rajasthan, India. (PI: Nadia Diamond-Smith, PhD, MS)
Reducing anemia among young preconception women in Nepal through a group household norm and micronutrient supplementation intervention
This R01 aims to test the combined effect of a household-level group intervention for newly married women, their husbands, and mothers-in-law combined with multiple micronutrient supplements. (PI: Nadia Diamond-Smith, PhD, MS)
Temporary childbirth migration: understanding the magnitude and implications for maternal and infant health
This R01 aims to measure and understand the impact of temporary childbirth migration on birth and maternal health outcomes across three sites in India. (PIs: Nadia Diamond-Smith, PhD, MS, and Alison El Ayadi, ScD, MPH)
Effectiveness of a mhealth interactive education and social support intervention for improving postnatal health
This R01 aims to measure the impact of a mhealth social support and information group for postpartum women on postpartum depression, breastfeeding and postpartum family planning uptake across three sites in India. (PIs: Nadia Diamond-Smith, PhD, MS, and Alison El Ayadi, ScD, MPH)
Evaluation of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) introduction across 8 counties in Kenya
This implementation research collaboration with Kenyatta University aims to evaluate the introduction of 600 point of care ultrasound devices for obstetric imaging by primarily midwives across eight counties in Kenya. (PI: Dilys Walker, MD)
Relational Coordination in Networks of Care for Maternal Newborn Health
This work updates the existing network of care framework and identifies candidates’ tools and measures for relational coordination. (PI: Dilys Walker, MD)
Child Observational Development (ChiDO) Study
This study aims to improve early identification of children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairment or disability in Zimbabwe. (PI: Susanne Martin Herz, MD, PhD)
Maternal and neonatal biomarkers of neurodevelopmental risk in a population-level sample in Zimbabwe
This study explores maternal and neonatal biomarkers of neurodevelopmental risk. (PI: Susanne Martin Herz, MD, PhD)
Caregiver Experience of Pediatric Disability in Urban Zimbabwe: A Qualitative Evaluation
This study aims to understand caregivers’ experience when raising a child with developmental disability. (PI: Susanne Martin Herz, MD, PhD)
Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Norms & Standards Study
This study will help establish global norms for child development using a new tool developed by the World Health Organization. (PI: Susanne Martin Herz, MD, PhD)
Global Action in Nursing (GAIN)
The GAIN project analyzes the impact of increasing the number of nurses and midwives and providing clinical and leadership training on the prevention of maternal and infant complications and death during childbirth in Liberia, Lesotho, Malawi and Sierra Leone. (Director: Kimberly Baltzell, PhD, MS, RN)
Enhanced virologic monitoring to facilitate adherence support for pregnant and postpartum women at risk of HIV viremia
This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of engaging mentor mothers in rapid viral load result delivery and counseling for pregnant and postpartum women with HIV. (PI: Pamela Murnane, PhD, MPH)
Geographic mobility and HIV care in pregnant and postpartum women
This study characterizes the multidimensional nature of mobility among pregnant and postpartum women with HIV in western Kenya and to understand associations with viral suppression. (PI: Pamela Murnane, PhD, MPH)
University of Zimbabwe – UCSF Clinical Trials Unit (UZ-UCSF CTU)
UZ-UCSF CTU is a research program that supports NIH HIV/AIDS research, collaborating with four NIH/NIAID-funded networks, focusing on the treatment, management and prevention of HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities throughout the life cycle. (PI: Zvavahera Chirenje, MD)
Operationalizing kangaroo Mother care before stabilization amongst low birth Weight Neonates in Africa (OMWaNA)
This randomized trial compares the effectiveness, safety, costs and cost-effectiveness of kangaroo mother care before stabilization versus standard care amongst neonates weighing less than 2000 g in Uganda. (PI: Melissa M. Medvedev, MD, PhD, MSc)
Co-developing and Disseminating an Investment Case for Small and Sick Newborn Care in Uganda
This project develops an evidence-based investment case for national scale-up of small and sick newborn care inclusive of early kangaroo mother care in Uganda. (PI: Melissa M. Medvedev, MD, PhD, MSc)
Adaptation and pilot testing of a couples-based intervention to prevent perinatal depression in rural India
This project seeks to adapt a couples-based intervention for perinatal depression among primiparous couples in rural India. (PI: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, PhD)
Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience (CPIPE) Trial
This project tests the effectiveness of the CPIPE intervention, an innovative theory and evidence-based intervention that addresses key drivers of poor person-centered maternity care. (PI: Patience Afulani, PhD, MD, MPH)
Development of the Person-Centered Postnatal Care Scale for Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Validation in Ghana
This project seeks to develop a person-centered postnatal care (PCPNC) scale to complete the full suite of scales for measuring person-centered care across the lifespan. (PI: Patience Afulani, PhD, MD, MPH)
Adaptation of the Person-Centered Prenatal Care Scale for Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Validation in Ghana
This project seeks to adapt the person-centered prenatal care scale to make it relevant to LMICs and to conduct the first validation study in Ghana. (PI: Patience Afulani, PhD, MD, MPH)
EMBRACE Race Concordant Perinatal Care for Black Families: Reclaiming Health and Wellness for Black Births
This project evaluates the impact of EMBRACE, an innovative perinatal care program for Black families uniquely designed to address racial inequities in perinatal outcomes. (PI: Patience Afulani, PhD, MD, MPH)
Pop-Up Village – A New Model of Perinatal and Family Care Delivery
This project evaluates the feasibility, sustainability and preliminary impact of the Pop-Up Village model of family and perinatal care delivery, a one-stop-shop for cross-sector services. (PI: Patience Afulani, PhD, MD, MPH)
Global PARITY (Pediatric Acute cRitical Illness sTudY)
This international point prevalence study measures the prevalence of pediatric acute critical illness in resource-constrained settings. (PI: Teresa Kortz, MD, MS, PhD)
Fever Etiology and Prognostic Point-of-Care Biomarkers in African Children with Severe Febrile Illness
This study evaluates the etiology and outcomes of severe febrile illness in children in Tanzania. (PI: Teresa Kortz, MD, MS, PhD)
Identifying Opportunities for Prevention of Adverse Outcomes Following Female Genital Fistula Repair (“Mulisa Study”)
This mixed-methods longitudinal cohort study seeks to understand the incidence and risk factors for adverse post-genital fistula repair outcomes. (PI: Alison El Ayadi, ScD, MPH)
Effectiveness and Acceptability of Two Models of an Insertable Vaginal Cup for Non-surgical Management of Obstetric Fistula: A Hybrid Type I Randomized Crossover Trial (“COPE Study”)
A clinical effectiveness and acceptability trial of two models of an insertable vaginal cup to manage fistula urinary incontinence. (PI: Alison El Ayadi, ScD, MPH)
Social Networks and their Role in Early Initiation of Antenatal Care by HIV Serostatus in Uganda
This study seeks to understand the impact of social networks on early antenatal care initiation in Uganda. (PI: Alison Comfort, PhD)
Past Work
Defining Research Priorities for Non-Balloon Intrauterine Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Management Tools
This research prioritization project focuses on emerging tools for PPH management in low- and middle-income countries.
Tiny Hats for Tiny Babies™
Tiny Hats for Tiny Babies™ is a global campaign to raise awareness about neonatal mortality and provide handmade hats to newborns in countries with low resources and high needs.
East Africa Preterm Birth Initiative
The East Africa Preterm Birth Initiative is a multi-year research partnership aimed at decreasing the burden of preterm birth and improving the quality of care for all babies and mothers.
PRONTO International
PRONTO International aims to optimize care during birth. We develop and implement innovative training strategies that catalyze health care providers to make individual, team and systems changes.
Strengthening People-centered Accessibility, Respect and Quality (SPARQ)
The SPARQ project worked with women and health facilities in Kenya and India on person-centered care in maternity, family planning and abortion services.
Partners
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- CARE India
- David & Lucille Packard Foundation
- Grand Challenges Canada
- Jacaranda Health
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
- Makerere University
- Mott MacDonald
- National University of Rwanda School of Public Health
- Public Health Foundation of India
- University of California Berkeley
- Warm Up America!
Learn More
Visit Advancing MNCH site.
