Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP)
June 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 2
http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/current

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EDITORIALS
Leading With LARCs in Nigeria: The Stars Are Aligned to Expand Effective Family Planning Services Decisively
Despite years of family planning effort in Nigeria, the modern contraceptive prevalence (mCPR) has reached only 10%. Yet a few recent seminal, well-executed programs have been outstandingly successful providing long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)—both in the public and private sector, and in the North and South. Remarkably, the LARCs they provided were equivalent to 2% mCPR in 2015 alone.
Accordingly, we advocate markedly increased support for: (1) private-sector approaches such as social franchising, particularly in the South, (2) mobile outreach, and (3) support to public clinical facilities, including expanding access through community health extension workers (CHEWs), particularly in the North. Success will require system support, quality, and concerted engagement from a variety of partners including the Government of Nigeria.
Without significant progress in Nigeria, the global FP2020 goal appears unattainable. Fortunately, leading with LARCs along with wide choice of other methods provides a clear avenue for success.
James D Shelton, Clea Finkle
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):179-185. First published online May 19, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00135

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EDITORIALS
A Convenient Truth: Cost of Medications Need Not Be a Barrier to Hepatitis B Treatment
Drugs that are inexpensive to manufacture and simple to administer greatly expand the potential to help tens of millions of people who need treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Key program implementation challenges include identifying who would benefit from antiviral medication and ensuring long-term and consistent treatment to people who feel well. The best opportunities are where health systems are advanced enough to effectively address these challenges and in settings where HIV service platforms can be leveraged. Research, innovation, and collaboration are critical to implement services most efficiently and to realize economies of scale to drive down costs of health care services, drugs, and diagnostics.
Matthew Barnhart
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):186-190. First published online June 16, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00128

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COMMENTARIES
Investing in Family Planning: Key to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Voluntary family planning brings transformational benefits to women, families, communities, and countries. Investing in family planning is a development “best buy” that can accelerate achievement across the 5 Sustainable Development Goal themes of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.
Ellen Starbird, Maureen Norton, Rachel Marcus
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):191-210. First published online June 9, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00374

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mHealth for Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence: A Framework to Guide Ethical Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
Promising mHealth approaches for TB treatment adherence include:
:: Video observation
:: Patient- or device-facilitated indirect monitoring
:: Direct monitoring through embedded sensors or metabolite testing
To mitigate ethical concerns, our framework considers accuracy of monitoring technologies, stigmatization and intrusiveness of the technologies, use of incentives, and the balance of individual and public good.
Michael J DiStefano, Harald Schmidt
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):211-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00018

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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Feasibility and Effectiveness of mHealth for Mobilizing Households for Indoor Residual Spraying to Prevent Malaria: A Case Study in Mali
Sending voice and/or text messages to mobilize households for spraying was more costly per structure and less effective at preparing structures than traditional door-to-door mobilization approaches supplemented with radio and town hall announcements. Challenges included:
:: Lack of familiarity with mobile phones and with public health mobile messaging
:: Lack of face-to-face communication with mobilizers, making it easier to ignore mobilization messages and preventing trust-building
:: Low literacy levels
:: Gender differentials in access to mobile phones
Keith Mangam, Elana Fiekowsky, Moussa Bagayoko, Laura Norris, Allison Belemvire, Rebecca Longhany, Christen Fornadel, Kristen George
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):222-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00381