Organisational change in maternal and neonatal health in the Indian health system

Overall goals

1. Identifying the conditions for effective organisational change in maternal and neonatal health in the Indian health system - a realist evaluation
2. Quality of care, international exchange
3. Development of research: Assessing The Impact Of An Intervention To Improve The Quality Of Emergency Obstetric Care On Maternal And Perinatal Outcomes In Nigeria

Immpact's mission was to conduct excellent and innovative research to inform and influence policy, governance and practice, improve quality of care and strengthen capacity for maternal and child health in low and middle income countries.

Achieved: The research group ended in 2016. However some insights into the work of Immpact in research, capacity building and technical support is described here https://www.abdn.ac.uk/iahs/research/immpact/index.php

Key UK Colleagues and Partners

Immpact (maternal & neonatal health research group) University of Aberdeen

International Partners

1. Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Ahmedebad, India, 2015
2. Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, March – Oct 2013
3. Federal Ministry of Health, & Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, Nigeria, 2012

Sustainable development goals

• SDG 3 - Good health and well-being
• SDG 4 - Quality education
• SDG 5 - Gender equality

Funding source

1. Grant
2. Grant
3. Sponsorship (WHO)

Project origin

The Immpact Research Group was established to contribute to the UN Millienium development goal of improving maternal health

Evidence of need

The Immpact Research Group was established to contribute to the UN Millienium development goal of improving maternal health

Project areas

Health Intelligence
Implementation research
Service Improvement
Management and Leadership

Project activities

1. We were shortlisted for MRC grant but unsuccessful at the final hurdle. Some of the research has been taken forward by our Indian Partners (IIPH)
2. The quality exchange programme was completed
3. The implementation research project is underway

Changes

Improved education, leadership and organisation of care, contributing to a reduction in maternal mortality

For partnership principles, we did not follow a particular set of principles, but our main ethos was to follow most of these. In particular, we were focused on being effective and sustainable, with good governance processes.

Next steps

I am working with NHS Grampian to develop organisational capacity and support for international development in low and middle income countries.

Challenges

Getting used to working across different cultures and environments. Understanding context and constraints. Also learning about improvements that could be adopted here.
I was supported by the research group whose mentoring was a great help.

Mitigating challenges

....

Partnership principles

• strategic
• harmonised
• effective
• respectful
• organised
• responsible
• flexible

Project gains

• teamwork
• awareness
• academic
• patient
• resilience