Wilson Center | Maternal Health Initiative

?? Adolescent birth rates remain disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, accounting for 97% of all adolescent births globally between 2013 and 2022. These figures reflect deep-rooted issues such as child marriage, which significantly increases the likelihood of early and repeated pregnancies. Women who marry before 18 are eight times more likely to have three or more children compared to those who marry later, perpetuating cycles of limited education, poverty, and poor health. ?? For pregnant adolescents, the stakes are even higher. Complications such as preeclampsia, postpartum endometritis, pre-term delivery, and infections place them at elevated maternal mortality risk compared to older women. Globally, pregnancy and childbirth complications remain the leading cause of death for girls aged fifteen to nineteen. This grim reality underscores the urgency of addressing their unique needs and providing targeted, evidence-based care. ?? Yet, pregnant adolescents often navigate a fragmented healthcare system where their needs fall between maternal health and adolescent programs. The World Health Organization's standards for adolescent-friendly health services largely overlook pregnancy care, relying more on expert opinion than evidence. Without a clear framework, identifying and addressing the complex needs of pregnant adolescents becomes a significant challenge, leaving them vulnerable and underserved. ?? In our new article, "Essential and Overdue: Quality Care for Adolescents Mothers and First-Time Parents," we explore the issue of maternal health care for adolescents and recommend a suitable approach that will address the gaps. Click the link to learn more:https://bit.ly/40ZBFAv

????The devastating impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident, and its effects are not evenly distributed. Rising sea levels are displacing entire communities, taking away homes, and fueling the spread of diseases. ??Over 920 million children are grappling with water scarcity, a crisis that threatens their survival and future. Malnutrition and food insecurity, exacerbated by climate change, are stunting the growth and potential of millions of children worldwide. Air pollution accounts for 7 million premature deaths annually and is a major contributing factor to mortality among children under five. At?#COP29, Dr. Tedros, Director-General of the WHO, issued a stark reminder that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is a public health emergency and a social justice challenge. Women and children are at the forefront of this crisis, enduring its harshest consequences. In our Policy Brief, Pioneering Solutions: Climate Finance, Gender Equity, and Sexual Reproductive Health Services, we address the relationship between climate, health, and gender equality and suggest solutions for integrating SRH services in climate mechanisms. ??To learn more, click the link below: https://bit.ly/3CIkt8s?#climateaction?#who?#climatejustice?#genderequality?#maternalhealth Wilson Center | Environmental Change and Security Program

Lebanon is facing an unimaginable humanitarian crisis. Escalated bombardments have left over 11,000 pregnant women in dire circumstances, with 1,300 expected to give birth in the next month amidst widespread devastation. The health system, already strained before, is now on the brink—over 100 healthcare centers and several hospitals have been forced to close. Organizations and agencies such as United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have worked to fill the gap by supporting maternal health services for displaced women across 30 hospitals, covering costs for safe deliveries and emergency obstetric care. In emergencies, women and children are often the most vulnerable, requiring immediate attention to ensure their health and safety. In our policy brief, Women and Girls in Wartime, we have highlighted these challenges and outlined key solutions. Click the link to learn more: https://bit.ly/3OaCizE.? #MaternalHealth #UNFPA #HumanitarianAid

??During humanitarian emergencies, women and newborns face severe disparities and heightened vulnerabilities, increasing their risk of illness and death. These emergencies often disrupt essential healthcare services, such as prenatal and postnatal care, skilled birth attendance, and access to emergency obstetric services, leaving expectant mothers and newborns without the care they critically need. Conflict, displacement, and natural disasters exacerbate these challenges, creating barriers to safe delivery and increasing the prevalence of preventable conditions. In such contexts, ensuring access to reproductive, maternal, and newborn health (RMNH) services becomes a matter of life and death. Yet, these services are often overlooked or underfunded in emergency response strategies, despite their integral role in reducing mortality and promoting resilience. In the latest issue of the Wilson Quarterly, maternal and newborn health experts share what needs more attention when responding to humanitarian emergencies. Click the link to learn more: https://bit.ly/3Cnmbfk

DEADLINE EXTENDED! Submit your application by November 11, 2024 to?[email protected]. The Maternal Health Initiative (MHI) at?@thewilsoncenter?is looking for a paid hybrid intern for the spring term, running from January 2025 to May 2025. As an intern with MHI, you will assist with communications, event planning, and implementation, contribute to the Dot-Mom column on the award-winning blog?@newsecuritybeat, and support publications. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with leading experts in maternal health, reproductive health, and gender equity while working with a dynamic and collaborative MHI team to enhance your communications and programmatic skills. Applicants should be junior or senior undergraduate students, graduate students, prospective graduate students (within the next year), and/or recent graduates (within the last year)pursuing degrees in public health, public policy, or related fields. Coursework or experience in maternal, child, adolescent, and/or reproductive health is required. The internship will be mostly remote, with the possibility of occasional in-person work at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. Candidates must be based in the Washington, D.C. area.

??The fall 2024 Wilson Quarterly explores the complexities of humanitarian response in an era of escalating crises. With insights from sector leaders, we analyze funding, innovation, and the challenges ahead. Framing the issue are The Wilson Center CEO Ambassador Mark A. Green, whose introduction reflects on his experiences leading USAID, a look at the numbers with Founding Partner of Humanitarian Outcomes, Abby Stoddard, and a lively discussion moderated by former USAID assistant to the administrator for the Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Rob Jenkins, in conversation with former UN Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Coordination Jamie McGoldrick, and ICVA Board Chair Nimo Hassan, who analyze the new world disorder.? As Humanitarian Crises Grow, So Do the Risks Faced by Women and Newborns, ?Sarah Barnes, Director of the Wilson Center Maternal Health Initiative, and other experts on maternal and sexual reproductive health from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Project HOPE, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and elsewhere uncover what aspects of care require more focus in humanitarian emergencies. Explore these and many other features in our latest issue titled Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.??#Humanitarianaid Click the link to learn more https://bit.ly/3YqQ9Xr

The latest issue of the Wilson Quarterly is out now! Check out these articles from Lauren Herzer Risi and Sarah Barnes, MPH and much more in the publication ?? 1?? Building Resilience Amid Growing Humanitarian Needs | https://buff.ly/3AeOJqL As #climatechange increases the intensity of natural #disasters and conflicts grow, humanitarian crises are becoming more complex and challenging to address. ECSP Director Lauren Herzer Risi sits down with #humanitarian water specialist Syed Imran Ali to discuss how we can build resilience in the face of these growing challenges. The key takeaway? The impact of climate change isn’t just increasing disaster occurrences—it is also complicating the delivery of vital assistance to those in need. 2?? As Humanitarian Crises Grow, So Do Risks for Women and Newborns | https://t.co/CVsEFhm0jf As humanitarian crises continue to grow, the risks faced by women and newborns are increasingly alarming. In this feature, Wilson Center | Maternal Health Initiative Director Sarah Barnes interviews maternal and newborn health experts from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Rescue Committee, Project HOPE, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London, and elsewhere to uncover what aspects of care require more focus in humanitarian emergencies. Together, they shed light on the urgent need for tailored responses to protect the most vulnerable during crises.

South Korea’s fertility rate has dropped to an alarming low of 0.72 as more citizens opt for pets over children. This shift raises concerns for the future of the nation’s population, which is well below the level needed to maintain stability. In our latest article, Torunika Roy explores how the government can address this issue by considering the diverse needs of its citizens, particularly women. Key recommendations include promoting gender equality, encouraging men to share household responsibilities, and creating policies that offer more flexible working hours. By making these structural changes, South Korea could begin to tackle its demographic challenges and create a more supportive environment for families. Click the link to learn more ?? https://bit.ly/3Uw01xH

As humanitarian crises grow, so do the risks for women and newborns. Seven maternal and newborn health experts, including AlignMNH Steering Committee member Jihan Salad, share their insights into the challenges women and newborns face during humanitarian crises via Wilson Quarterly. ?? Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gcwXR3_7 ?? View the full issue: https://lnkd.in/gTJAkfmX #MNCH #MaternalHealth #MaternalMortality #NewbornHealth cc: The Wilson Center, Wilson Center | Maternal Health Initiative Photo caption: Displaced women and girls, Luuq-Gedo Region of Somalia Photo credit: Dr. Claudia Donkor/UNFPA

?? New Security Brief | Pioneering Solutions: Climate Finance, Gender Equity, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Services The significant impacts of climate change on global health and on women and girls are well documented. Yet despite the evidence, funding for climate responses that focus on health or gender remains relatively low. In the rare instances where climate finance provides funds to improve health services, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services—which are critical to women’s full participation in society and decisionmaking—are largely neglected. ECSP and the Wilson Center | Maternal Health Initiative partnered to produce a new policy brief exploring opportunities integrating gender equity and sexual and reproductive health services into climate finance. The #NewSecurityBrief, produced with support from the Population Institute, surveys current trends and recommends pathways to close the gap between #climate resilience and gender equity that make climate finance more impactful. This brief was informed by a June 2024 private roundtable discussion focused on the importance of investments in #gender equity and #SRH services in the climate sector hosted by the Wilson Center. Read the full brief here ?? https://buff.ly/48x7W3F