Prediction model study for improving the quality of maternal and child health care

Reference No.	2024a009
Type/Category	Grant for Supporting the Advancement of Female Researchers- Short-term Visiting Researcher
Title of Research Project	Prediction model study for improving the quality of maternal and child health care
Principal Investigator	Kimiyo Kikuchi（Harvard School of Public Health・Visiting Scientist）
Research Period	August 19,2024. ～ August 23,2024.
Keyword(s) of Research Fields	Modeling study, maternal and child health, global health
Abstract for Research Report	Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 includes reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates to 70 per 100,000 live births and 12 per 1,000 live births, respectively, as targets to be achieved by 2030. However, improvements in mortality rates in low- and middle-income countries have been slow, and the impact of new coronavirus outbreaks has made the SDG targets even more difficult to achieve.　 In addressing this challenge, quality of care is key to improving maternal and child health indicators. Quality of care includes a "continuum of care in maternal and child health," in which mothers and children receive care from the antenatal to the postnatal period, as well as necessary care at checkups and in emergencies and appropriate counseling. Improving the quality of care efficiently is essential to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the limited time available before the end of the SDGs in 2030. This requires projections for improving the quality of care and a clear design of interventions to achieve this goal. Thus, this study aims to establish a model to predict how much maternal and child "quality of care" needs to improve to achieve a reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. No models yet exist to predict the impact of country-level "quality of care" on maternal and neonatal mortality, and this prediction model could be an effective tool to help low- and middle-income countries achieve the SDG targets more effectively. This study has important implications for quality improvement in health policy. This project will culminate in the completion of an abstract to be submitted to the American Public Health Association within the duration of the short-term fellowship, but we plan to eventually publish an article in an international journal. This research will provide new knowledge to help improve maternal and child health and assist low?and middle-income countries in achieving sustainable development goals.
Organizing Committee Members (Workshop) Participants (Short-term Joint Usage)	Masayo Hirose（Institute of Mathematics for Industry・Assistant Professor）