Social, behavioural and community-engagement interventions (SBCE) for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health: An evidence-gap map (EGM)

ID: 

19308

Session: 

Short oral session 11: Stakeholder involvement in evidence production, synthesis and use A

Date: 

Friday 15 September 2017 - 11:00 to 12:30

Location: 

Meeting Room 1.63

All authors in correct order:

Portela A1, Stevenson J2, Hinton R3, Emler M4, Tsoli S5, Snilstveit B6
1 World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (WHO/MCA), Switzerland
2 Research Associate, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), United Kingdom
3 Consultant, WHO/MCA, Switzerland
4 Intern, WHO/MCA, Switzerland
5 Research Assistant, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), United Kingdom
6 Senior Evaluation Specialist, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), United Kingdom
Presenting author and contact person

Presenting author:

Anayda Portela

Contact person:

Anayda Portela
Abstract text
Background: The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescent’s Health (2016-2030) was released in parallel with the SDGs, both promoting a broader vision for health.The strategy calls for action towards three objectives for health: survive (end preventable deaths), thrive (ensure health and wellbeing) and transform (expand enabling environments). To achieve these objectives, decision makers need access to high-quality evidence on intervention effects, particularly for social, behavioural and community-engagement (SBCE) where global guidance is less prevalent. A plethora of studies is produced every year but they are scattered across different sources. Existing research may therefore not be accessed and used optimally to inform decisions and prioritise new research. To address these issues the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) developed an evidence-gap map (EGM) of key SBCE interventions related to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH).

Objectives: (1) Identify existing systematic reviews of SBCE interventions that can be used to inform programmes for RMNCH; and, (2) Identify evidence gaps where new primary studies, systematic reviews and WHO guidelines could add value.

Methods: EGMs are collections of impact evaluations and systematic reviews of intervention effects in a sector or thematic area, presented visually on an interactive platform. The scope of the EGM was defined, and reviewed by an expert group of key stakeholders. We included systematic reviews and impact evaluations assessing the effects of SBCE interventions in low- and middle-income countries and used systematic methods to identify, categorise and describe studies. We critically appraised systematic reviews, and used data visualisation to map the evidence and research gaps.

Results and conclusions: We identified over 600 completed impact evaluations and systematic reviews meeting our inclusion criteria. This presentation will summarise the findings of the EGM and demonstrate how decision makers and researchers can use the EGM to explore the available evidence base.