Publication

Mobile outreach health services for mothers and children in conflict-affected and remote areas: A population-based study from Afghanistan

Authored by:

Edmond, K., Yousufi, K., Naziri, M., Higgins-Steele, A., Qadir, A. Q., Sadat, S. M., ... & Smith, E.

Full Citation:

Edmond, K., Yousufi, K., Naziri, M., Higgins-Steele, A., Qadir, A. Q., Sadat, S. M., ... & Smith, E. 2020. Mobile outreach health services for mothers and children in conflict-affected and remote areas: A population-based study from Afghanistan. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 105(1).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Sustaining immunization activities and preventing vaccine-preventable outbreaks during conflict can be achieved through pre-emptive preparedness measures and concerted programmatic and financial support from governments and partners.

Key Evidence: In Afghanistan, delivering health services through sustained, scheduled mobile health teams in remote and conflict-affected villages improved coverage of maternal and child health interventions, including immunization. The proportion of children under 1 year receiving their first dose of measles vaccine was higher in districts that had received mobile health team services for at least the previous 3 years (73.8%) compared to control districts in the same province (57.3%). The researchers concluded that incorporating mobile clinics into health system infrastructure in a systematic way can effectively improve health for hard to reach mothers and children in remote and conflict-affected areas.