Engagement of men in defining relevant solutions is key to changing harmful social norms and to reaching successful maternal and child health outcomes. The IMCHA research team "Improving Access to Health Services and Quality of Care for Mothers and Children in Tanzania" studied how men can be involved in maternal and child health. 

E-learning is becoming an increasingly mainstream feature of educational delivery. To reinforce knowledge and skills following face-to-face training program in comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care (CEmONC) and anaesthesia the Accessing Safe Deliveries in Tanzania (ASDIT) project developed eLearning platform contents for the healthcare workers in rural health centres.

The government of Tanzania targets to expand the number of public health centers providing comprehensive emergency obstetrics and neonatal care (CEmONC) services from 12% in 2015 to 50% by 2020. Implementation of this policy has increased a demand for anaesthesia providers.

Maternal death rates in sub-Saharan Africa have dropped almost 40% since 2000, yet the region still has the highest number of maternal deaths, at 533 deaths per 100,000 live births. This figure translated to 200,000 deaths in 2017, UNICEF reports. Poverty, low education levels, violence against women, early marriage, and adolescent pregnancy continue to mark the lives of many women, contributing to their poor health and high mortality. 

Across sub-Saharan Africa, around 550 women die every day from complications due to pregnancy or childbirth, and children under five are 16 times more likely to die than if they were born in high-income countries. Many of these deaths are preventable through stronger, more resilient, health systems. Access to quality care and data are areas that require investment, improvement and innovation to reduce maternal and child mortality rates.

There have been great maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) achievements across sub-Saharan African over the last two decades. Countries have made progress against many key indicators, including under-five and maternal mortality, as well as the provision of family planning and HIV services.

Depuis 2015, des recherches soutenues par le CRDI sont en cours au Sud-Soudan et dans le nord de l'Ouganda pour améliorer la santé des mères et des enfants. Dans ces situations post-conflit, les chercheurs renforcent les systèmes de santé locaux, réduisent les obstacles à l'accès, donnent aux femmes les moyens d'agir et mobilisent les collectivités pour qu'elles répondent à leurs besoins en matière de santé. 

​La pandémie de COVID-19 a montré comment une menace sanitaire mondiale peut rapidement saper les progrès du développement et faire payer un lourd tribut aux personnes les plus vulnérables du monde, notamment aux pauvres des zones urbaines à faible revenu, aux populations déplacées et aux victimes d'une mauvaise gouvernance, de catastrophes et de conflits armés, qui ont subi les contrecoups des efforts déployés pour contenir cette pandémie.