A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone.

Katy Kuhrt, Chileshe Mabula-Bwalya, Harriet Boulding, Alice Beardmore-Gray, Alexandra Ridout, Osman Koroma, Betty Sam, Prince Tommy Williams, Francis Smart, Isabel Meleki, Meek Mwila, Mubanga Chileshe, Racheal Mawere, Alice Hurrell, Christabel Mbiiza, Cristina Fernandez Turienzo, Jane Sandall, Bellington Vwalika, Andrew Shennan, Kate Bramham

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Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality; 30,000 pre-eclampsia-related maternal deaths occur annually, with 70% in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and 16% in South Asia. We have shown that early, accurate detection of hypertension combined with planned early delivery in women with late preterm pre-eclampsia significantly reduces stillbirth and severe maternal hypertension. We describe co-development and delivery of policy labs, working with The Policy Institute (King’s College London), and local stakeholders in Sierra Leone and Zambia, to expedite integration of new knowledge into pre-eclampsia care pathways, to improve care for women and babies with the worst outcomes. Policy labs are a unique, user-centric engagement approach, bringing diverse stakeholders together in co-designing strategies for translation of evidence into policy and impact. Both labs were facilitated by local, well-respected female team members, and addressed co-developed questions: ‘How can we improve timely detection and appropriate action in women with pre-eclampsia?’ (Sierra Leone); ‘What are enablers and barriers to offering planned early delivery between 34 and 37 weeks?’(Zambia). Participants at both labs identified lack of pre-eclampsia awareness as a key barrier, and recommended local co-design of community-based strategies to increase access to timely pre-eclampsia management. We demonstrated policy labs as an effective approach in two low-and middle income settings to facilitate transfer of new knowledge into policy and action.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalBMC Global and Public Health
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 28 Nov 2024

Keywords

  • policy lab
  • pre-eclampsia
  • hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
  • low-and middle-income settings

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