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Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF)-PLoS Collection on Maternal Health

Each year still close to 300,000 women unnecessarily die trying to give birth—a staggering number that ensures the Millennium Development Goal on maternal mortality will regrettably not be met. However, important progress has been made: considerable reductions in maternal deaths globally and in specific locations have been achieved, and the most cost-effective interventions to prevent and successfully manage all major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality (including good nutrition, access to contraception, skilled attendance at delivery, and emergency obstetric care) have been identified. With new global pledges and a more reliable scientific understanding of what it takes to prevent deaths and disability among women and children worldwide, the time to accelerate progress to achieve maternal health goals is now.

Vexing our road to success, however, is the continued lack of access to knowledge on maternal health in many settings, which is a major limitation to all of human development. The Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) at the Harvard School of Public Health is concerned that the chasm between those who have access to information on maternal health and those who do not will widen. The MHTF’s overarching goal is access: more people should have greater access to more comprehensive maternal health data, programmatic experiences and lessons learned, and to be informed about critical areas of debate and growing consensus. In order to achieve the goal of greater access, the MHTF is collaborating with PLoS to create a freely available, open access collection of published research and commentary on maternal health care: the MHTF–PLoS Collection on Maternal Health.

The MHTF–PLoS partnership is for three years. Each year the collection will have a different focus, and in 2012 the theme will be “quality of maternal health care.”

For this MHTF–PLoS Collection on Maternal Health we welcome primary research (both quantitative and qualitative) and incisive commentary related to the quality of maternal health care. We consider maternal health an integral part of women’s reproductive health and therefore papers linking care during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum with other aspects of reproductive health will be relevant to the Collection.

Please see our editorial below for more details of this year’s theme and our Call for Papers.

Regular updates will be provided at the Collection page: www.ploscollections.org/maternalhealth

Image Credit: Jack Zalium at flickr.com

Editorials Top

Quality of Maternal Health Care: A Call for Papers for a Maternal Health Task Force–PLoS Collection

Samantha R. Lattof, Mary Nell Wegner, Ana Langer, and the PLoS Medicine Editors

PLoS Medicine:
Published 29 Nov 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001134

HIV in Maternal and Child Heath: Concurrent Crises Demand Cooperation

The PLoS Medicine Editors

PLoS Medicine:
Published 27 Jul 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000311

Maternal Health: Time to Deliver

The PLoS Medicine Editors

PLoS Medicine:
Published 21 Jun 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000300

Essays Top

Evidence-Based Priority Setting for Health Care and Research: Tools to Support Policy in Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Africa

Igor Rudan, Lydia Kapiriri, Mark Tomlinson, Manuela Balliet, Barney Cohen, Mickey Chopra

PLoS Medicine:
Published 13 Jul 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000308

Improving Implementation: Building Research Capacity in Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Africa

James Whitworth, Nelson K. Sewankambo, Valerie A. Snewin

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 06 Jul 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000299

Closing the Gaps: From Science to Action in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Africa

Sara Bennett, Freddie Ssengooba

PLoS Medicine:
Published 29 Jun 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000298

Perspectives Top

Radiodiagnostic Imaging in Pregnancy and the Risk of Childhood Malignancy: Raising the Bar

Eduardo L. Franco, Guy-Anne Turgeon

PLoS Medicine:
Published 07 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000338

Antiretroviral Strategies to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: Striking a Balance between Efficacy, Feasibility, and Resistance

Dara A. Lehman, Grace C. John-Stewart, Julie Overbaugh

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 27 Oct 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000169

Funding for Reproductive Health in Conflict and Post-Conflict Countries: A Familiar Story of Inequity and Insufficient Data

Paul B. Spiegel, Nadine Cornier, Marian Schilperoord

PLoS Medicine:
Published 09 Jun 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000093

Post-Partum Psychosis: Which Women Are at Highest Risk?

Phillipa J Hay

PLoS Medicine:
Published 10 Feb 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000027

Health in Action Top

Improving Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Care and Related Services in Eastern Rwanda

Younsook Lim, Jim Yong Kim, Michael Rich, Sara Stulac, Jean Bosco Niyonzima, Mary C. Smith Fawzi, Rose Gahire, Martha Mukaminega, Marya Getchell, Curtis W. Peterson, Paul E. Farmer, Agnès Binagwaho

PLoS Medicine:
Published 20 Jul 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000302

Improving Maternal and Child Health in Difficult Environments: The Case For “Cross-Border” Health Care

Gijs Walraven, Semira Manaseki-Holland, Abid Hussain, John B Tomaro

PLoS Medicine:
Published 13 Jan 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000005

Policy Forums Top

The African Women's Protocol: Bringing Attention to Reproductive Rights and the MDGs

Liesl Gerntholtz, Andrew Gibbs, Samantha Willan

PLoS Medicine:
Published 05 Apr 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000429

Examining the “Urban Advantage” in Maternal Health Care in Developing Countries

Zoë Matthews, Amos Channon, Sarah Neal, David Osrin, Nyovani Madise, William Stones

PLoS Medicine:
Published 14 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000327

Financing Maternal and Child Health—What Are the Limitations in Estimating Donor Flows and Resource Needs?

Marco Schäferhoff, Christina Schrade, Gavin Yamey

PLoS Medicine:
Published 06 Jul 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000305

Sub-Saharan Africa's Mothers, Newborns, and Children: Where and Why Do They Die?

Mary V. Kinney, Kate J. Kerber, Robert E. Black, Barney Cohen, Francis Nkrumah, Hoosen Coovadia, Paul Michael Nampala, Joy E. Lawn, on behalf of the Science in Action: Saving the lives of Africa's mothers, newborns, and children working group

PLoS Medicine:
Published 21 Jun 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000294

Sub-Saharan Africa's Mothers, Newborns, and Children: How Many Lives Could Be Saved with Targeted Health Interventions?

Ingrid K. Friberg, Mary V. Kinney, Joy E. Lawn, Kate J. Kerber, M. Oladoyin Odubanjo, Anne-Marie Bergh, Neff Walker, Eva Weissman, Mickey Chopra, Robert E. Black, on behalf of the Science in Action: Saving the lives of Africa's mothers, newborns, and children working group

PLoS Medicine:
Published 21 Jun 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000295

Research Articles Top

Maternal Influenza Immunization and Reduced Likelihood of Prematurity and Small for Gestational Age Births: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Saad B. Omer, David Goodman, Mark C. Steinhoff, Roger Rochat, Keith P. Klugman, Barbara J. Stoll, Usha Ramakrishnan

PLoS Medicine:
Published 31 May 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000441

Primary Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Large-for-Gestational-Age Newborns by Lifestyle Counseling: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Riitta Luoto, Tarja I. Kinnunen, Minna Aittasalo, Päivi Kolu, Jani Raitanen, Katriina Ojala, Kirsi Mansikkamäki, Satu Lamberg, Tommi Vasankari, Tanja Komulainen, Sirkku Tulokas

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 17 May 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001036

HIV-1 Drug Resistance Emergence among Breastfeeding Infants Born to HIV-Infected Mothers during a Single-Arm Trial of Triple-Antiretroviral Prophylaxis for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission: A Secondary Analysis

Clement Zeh, Paul J. Weidle, Lillian Nafisa, Humphrey M. Lwamba, Jully Okonji, Emily Anyango, Philip Bondo, Rose Masaba, Mary Glenn Fowler, John N. Nkengasong, Michael C. Thigpen, Timothy Thomas

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 29 Mar 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000430

Triple-Antiretroviral Prophylaxis to Prevent Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission through Breastfeeding—The Kisumu Breastfeeding Study, Kenya: A Clinical Trial

Timothy K. Thomas, Rose Masaba, Craig B. Borkowf, Richard Ndivo, Clement Zeh, Ambrose Misore, Juliana Otieno, Denise Jamieson, Michael C. Thigpen, Marc Bulterys, Laurence Slutsker, Kevin M. De Cock, Pauli N. Amornkul, Alan E. Greenberg, Mary Glenn Fowler, for the KiBS Study Team

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 29 Mar 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001015

The Influence of Distance and Level of Care on Delivery Place in Rural Zambia: A Study of Linked National Data in a Geographic Information System

Sabine Gabrysch, Simon Cousens, Jonathan Cox, Oona M. R. Campbell

PLoS Medicine:
Published 25 Jan 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000394

Predicting Live Birth, Preterm Delivery, and Low Birth Weight in Infants Born from In Vitro Fertilisation: A Prospective Study of 144,018 Treatment Cycles

Scott M. Nelson, Debbie A. Lawlor

PLoS Medicine:
Published 04 Jan 2011 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000386

Prenatal Treatment for Serious Neurological Sequelae of Congenital Toxoplasmosis: An Observational Prospective Cohort Study

Mario Cortina-Borja, Hooi Kuan Tan, Martine Wallon, Malgorzata Paul, Andrea Prusa, Wilma Buffolano, Gunilla Malm, Alison Salt, Katherine Freeman, Eskild Petersen, Ruth E. Gilbert, for The European Multicentre Study on Congenital Toxoplasmosis (EMSCOT)

PLoS Medicine:
Published 12 Oct 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000351

Major Radiodiagnostic Imaging in Pregnancy and the Risk of Childhood Malignancy: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Ontario

Joel G. Ray, Michael J. Schull, Marcelo L. Urquia, John J. You, Astrid Guttmann, Marian J. Vermeulen

PLoS Medicine:
Published 07 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000337

Impact of Community-Based Maternal Health Workers on Coverage of Essential Maternal Health Interventions among Internally Displaced Communities in Eastern Burma: The MOM Project

Luke C. Mullany, Thomas J. Lee, Lin Yone, Catherine I. Lee, Katherine C. Teela, Palae Paw, Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, Cynthia Maung, Heather Kuiper, Nicole F. Masenior, Chris Beyrer

PLoS Medicine:
Published 03 Aug 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000317

Alternative Strategies to Reduce Maternal Mortality in India: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Sue J. Goldie, Steve Sweet, Natalie Carvalho, Uma Chandra Mouli Natchu, Delphine Hu

PLoS Medicine:
Published 20 Apr 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000264

Essential Surgery at the District Hospital: A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis in Three African Countries

Moses Galukande, Johan von Schreeb, Andreas Wladis, Naboth Mbembati, Helder de Miranda, Margaret E. Kruk, Sam Luboga, Alphonsus Matovu, Colin McCord, S. Khady Ndao-Brumblay, Doruk Ozgediz, Peter C. Rockers, Ana Romàn Quiñones, Fernando Vaz, Haile T. Debas, Sarah B. Macfarlane

PLoS Medicine:
Published 09 Mar 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000243

Effectiveness of Non-nucleoside Reverse-Transcriptase Inhibitor-Based Antiretroviral Therapy in Women Previously Exposed to a Single Intrapartum Dose of Nevirapine: A Multi-country, Prospective Cohort Study

Jeffrey S. A. Stringer, Michelle S. McConnell, James Kiarie, Omotayo Bolu, Thanomsak Anekthananon, Tavatchai Jariyasethpong, Dara Potter, Winnie Mutsotso, Craig B. Borkowf, Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, Peter Muiruri, John Odero Ong'ech, Isaac Zulu, Lungowe Njobvu, Bongkoch Jetsawang, Sonal Pathak, Marc Bulterys, Nathan Shaffer, Paul J. Weidle

PLoS Medicine:
Published 16 Feb 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000233

Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Incidence of Pregnancy among HIV-Infected Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cohort Study

Landon Myer, Rosalind J. Carter, Monica Katyal, Patricia Toro, Wafaa M. El-Sadr, Elaine J. Abrams

PLoS Medicine:
Published 09 Feb 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000229

Quantifying the Number of Pregnancies at Risk of Malaria in 2007: A Demographic Study

Stephanie Dellicour, Andrew J. Tatem, Carlos A. Guerra, Robert W. Snow, Feiko O. ter Kuile

PLoS Medicine:
Published 26 Jan 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000221

The APPLe Study: A Randomized, Community-Based, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Azithromycin for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, with Meta-Analysis

Nynke R. van den Broek, Sarah A. White, Mark Goodall, Chikondi Ntonya, Edith Kayira, George Kafulafula, James P. Neilson

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 01 Dec 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000191

Efficacy of Short-Course AZT Plus 3TC to Reduce Nevirapine Resistance in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission: A Randomized Clinical Trial

James A. McIntyre, Mark Hopley, Daya Moodley, Marie Eklund, Glenda E. Gray, David B. Hall, Patrick Robinson, Douglas Mayers, Neil A. Martinson

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 27 Oct 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000172

The Effect of Changing Patterns of Obstetric Care in Scotland (1980–2004) on Rates of Preterm Birth and Its Neonatal Consequences: Perinatal Database Study

Jane E. Norman, Carole Morris, James Chalmers

PLoS Medicine:
Published 22 Sep 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000153

Tracking Official Development Assistance for Reproductive Health in Conflict-Affected Countries

Preeti Patel, Bayard Roberts, Samantha Guy, Louise Lee-Jones, Lesong Conteh

PLoS Medicine:
Published 09 Jun 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000090

Preconceptional Folate Supplementation and the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Cohort Study

Radek Bukowski, Fergal D. Malone, Flint T. Porter, David A. Nyberg, Christine H. Comstock, Gary D. V. Hankins, Keith Eddleman, Susan J. Gross, Lorraine Dugoff, Sabrina D. Craigo, Ilan E. Timor-Tritsch, Stephen R. Carr, Honor M. Wolfe, Mary E. D'Alton

PLoS Medicine:
Published 12 May 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000061

Clinico-Pathological Discrepancies in the Diagnosis of Causes of Maternal Death in Sub-Saharan Africa: Retrospective Analysis

Jaume Ordi, Mamudo R Ismail, Carla Carrilho, Cleofé Romagosa, Nafissa Osman, Fernanda Machungo, Josep A Bombí, Juan Balasch, Pedro L Alonso, Clara Menéndez

PLoS Medicine:
Published 24 Feb 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000036

Psychotic Illness in First-Time Mothers with No Previous Psychiatric Hospitalizations: A Population-Based Study

Unnur Valdimarsdóttir, Christina M Hultman, Bernard Harlow, Sven Cnattingius, Pär Sparén

PLoS Medicine:
Published 10 Feb 2009 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000013