A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone

Abstract Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality; 30,000 pre-eclampsia-related maternal deaths occur annually, with 70% in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and 16% in South Asia. We have shown that early, accurate detection of hypertension combined with planned early delivery in...

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Main Authors: Katy Kuhrt, Chileshe Mabula-Bwalya, Harriet Boulding, Alice Beardmore-Gray, Alexandra Ridout, Osman Koroma, Betty Sam, Prince Tommy Williams, Francis Smart, Isabel Meleki, Meek Mwila, Mubanga Chileshe, Racheal Mawere, Alice Hurrell, Christabel Mbiiza, Cristina Fernandez-Turienzo, Jane Sandall, Bellington Vwalika, Andrew Shennan, Kate Bramham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Global and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-024-00116-8
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author Katy Kuhrt
Chileshe Mabula-Bwalya
Harriet Boulding
Alice Beardmore-Gray
Alexandra Ridout
Osman Koroma
Betty Sam
Prince Tommy Williams
Francis Smart
Isabel Meleki
Meek Mwila
Mubanga Chileshe
Racheal Mawere
Alice Hurrell
Christabel Mbiiza
Cristina Fernandez-Turienzo
Jane Sandall
Bellington Vwalika
Andrew Shennan
Kate Bramham
author_facet Katy Kuhrt
Chileshe Mabula-Bwalya
Harriet Boulding
Alice Beardmore-Gray
Alexandra Ridout
Osman Koroma
Betty Sam
Prince Tommy Williams
Francis Smart
Isabel Meleki
Meek Mwila
Mubanga Chileshe
Racheal Mawere
Alice Hurrell
Christabel Mbiiza
Cristina Fernandez-Turienzo
Jane Sandall
Bellington Vwalika
Andrew Shennan
Kate Bramham
author_sort Katy Kuhrt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality; 30,000 pre-eclampsia-related maternal deaths occur annually, with 70% in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and 16% in South Asia. We have shown that early, accurate detection of hypertension combined with planned early delivery in women with late preterm pre-eclampsia significantly reduces stillbirth and severe maternal hypertension. We describe co-development and delivery of policy labs, working with The Policy Institute (King’s College London), and local stakeholders in Sierra Leone and Zambia, to expedite integration of new knowledge into pre-eclampsia care pathways, to improve care for women and babies with the worst outcomes. Policy labs are a unique, user-centric engagement approach, bringing diverse stakeholders together in co-designing strategies for translation of evidence into policy and impact. Both labs were facilitated by local, well-respected female team members, and addressed co-developed questions: ‘How can we improve timely detection and appropriate action in women with pre-eclampsia?’ (Sierra Leone); ‘What are enablers and barriers to offering planned early delivery between 34 and 37 weeks?’(Zambia). Participants at both labs identified lack of pre-eclampsia awareness as a key barrier, and recommended local co-design of community-based strategies to increase access to timely pre-eclampsia management. We demonstrated  policy labs as an effective approach in two low-and middle income settings to facilitate transfer of new knowledge into policy and action.
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spelling doaj-art-7c8bedefefac4b08ae39ece51af1465c2025-08-20T02:41:26ZengBMCBMC Global and Public Health2731-913X2025-01-013111010.1186/s44263-024-00116-8A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra LeoneKaty Kuhrt0Chileshe Mabula-Bwalya1Harriet Boulding2Alice Beardmore-Gray3Alexandra Ridout4Osman Koroma5Betty Sam6Prince Tommy Williams7Francis Smart8Isabel Meleki9Meek Mwila10Mubanga Chileshe11Racheal Mawere12Alice Hurrell13Christabel Mbiiza14Cristina Fernandez-Turienzo15Jane Sandall16Bellington Vwalika17Andrew Shennan18Kate Bramham19Department of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonThe Policy Institute at King’s College LondonDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonWelbodi PartnershipWelbodi PartnershipLifeline Nehemiah ProjectsDepartment of Policy, Planning and Information, Ministry of Health and SanitationMinistry of HealthUniversity of Zambia – King’s College London Maternal Health Collaboration, University of ZambiaUniversity of Zambia – King’s College London Maternal Health Collaboration, University of ZambiaUniversity of Zambia – King’s College London Maternal Health Collaboration, University of ZambiaDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonMinistry of HealthDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of ZambiaDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College LondonAbstract Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality; 30,000 pre-eclampsia-related maternal deaths occur annually, with 70% in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and 16% in South Asia. We have shown that early, accurate detection of hypertension combined with planned early delivery in women with late preterm pre-eclampsia significantly reduces stillbirth and severe maternal hypertension. We describe co-development and delivery of policy labs, working with The Policy Institute (King’s College London), and local stakeholders in Sierra Leone and Zambia, to expedite integration of new knowledge into pre-eclampsia care pathways, to improve care for women and babies with the worst outcomes. Policy labs are a unique, user-centric engagement approach, bringing diverse stakeholders together in co-designing strategies for translation of evidence into policy and impact. Both labs were facilitated by local, well-respected female team members, and addressed co-developed questions: ‘How can we improve timely detection and appropriate action in women with pre-eclampsia?’ (Sierra Leone); ‘What are enablers and barriers to offering planned early delivery between 34 and 37 weeks?’(Zambia). Participants at both labs identified lack of pre-eclampsia awareness as a key barrier, and recommended local co-design of community-based strategies to increase access to timely pre-eclampsia management. We demonstrated  policy labs as an effective approach in two low-and middle income settings to facilitate transfer of new knowledge into policy and action.https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-024-00116-8Policy labPre-eclampsiaHypertensive disorders of pregnancyLow-and middle-income settings
spellingShingle Katy Kuhrt
Chileshe Mabula-Bwalya
Harriet Boulding
Alice Beardmore-Gray
Alexandra Ridout
Osman Koroma
Betty Sam
Prince Tommy Williams
Francis Smart
Isabel Meleki
Meek Mwila
Mubanga Chileshe
Racheal Mawere
Alice Hurrell
Christabel Mbiiza
Cristina Fernandez-Turienzo
Jane Sandall
Bellington Vwalika
Andrew Shennan
Kate Bramham
A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
BMC Global and Public Health
Policy lab
Pre-eclampsia
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Low-and middle-income settings
title A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
title_full A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
title_fullStr A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
title_full_unstemmed A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
title_short A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
title_sort novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre eclampsia co developed policy labs in zambia and sierra leone
topic Policy lab
Pre-eclampsia
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Low-and middle-income settings
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-024-00116-8
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