PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre Spotlight Series
Reference Number: USA-351
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC for Research Evidence for Sexual and Reproductive Health
Institution: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina
Reference Number: USA-374*
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC for Reproductive Health
Institution: Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Reference Number: CUB-7*
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC for Research in Human Reproduction
Institution: Hospital “Cmdte Manuel Fajardo” Instituto Nacional de Endocrinología, Ministry of Health
Reference Number: ARG-40
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC for Research in Human Reproduction
Institution: Epidemiology Unit, Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales
Category 3 (SP 14-19)
Outcome 1, 2, 19, 21, 22 (SP 20-25)
Dr. Rodolfo Gomez, Regional Advisor, Reproductive Health, is the PAHO staff member who supports the WHO focal point to coordinate the collaboration between the institution (USA-351, USA-375, CUB-7) and the Organization. Dr. Bremen De Mucio, Regional Advisor, Sexual and Reproductive Health, is the PAHO staff member who acts as the Region’s focal point to coordinate the collaboration between the institution (ARG-40) and the Organization.
The main activities of these Centres include: (1) analyzing clinical perinatal records databases; (2) conducting literature reviews; (3) preparing conference presentations; (4) drafting manuscripts; (5) participating in regional advisory committees; (6) conducting testing, diagnosis and evaluations of lab techniques for HIV, syphilis, Chagas and hepatitis B; (7) analyzing and addressing maternal mortality; (8) conducting research projects on diabetes and pregnancy; (9) translating material into Spanish; and (10) providing training courses.
The Centre at UNC, has provided strong and ongoing support for the development, updating, and implementation of WHO’s evidence-based guidance for family planning especially on the Guidelines Steering Group and work with the Continuous Identification of Research Evidence (CIRE) System, in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO. The support is to help ensure that WHO guidance for family planning remains updated and is based on high quality science. As a result, staff from the Centre participated in the Guideline Development Group Meeting: Review of Global Guidance on Contraceptive Eligibility for Women at High Risk of HIV in Geneva from July 29-31, 2019.
The Centre at the Division of Reproductive Health, CDC, participate in the regional advisory committee for elimination of the vertical transmission of diseases during pregnancy and childbirth. The Centre analyses data presented in publications such as EMTCT Plus, an annual report focusing on the regional maternal vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis, Chagas and hepatitis B. Furthermore, the Centre also participates in the dissemination of the guidelines for testing, evaluation, and diagnosis to identify the accuracy of the tests and evidence based updated treatments for elimination of mother to child HIV, syphilis, Chagas and hepatitis B in the Region.
The Centre at the Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales has developed training courses titled Curso Metodología de la Investigación in 2016, Curso en línea de Epidemiología para Integrantes de Equipos de Salud de America Latina in 2017 and Curso Buenas Prácticas Clínicas in 2017. This Centre has also translated The WHO Reproductive Health Library (RHL) into Spanish including the following documents:
- Preparations of WHO recommendations of Antenatal Care Interventions
- Implementación iniciativa iPIER Project
- CLAP OPS Maternal Near Miss
- WHO Multicentre study for the development of growth standards from fetal life to childhood: the fetal component
- Effects of weight management interventions on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancy: Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomised trials and model based economic evaluation (iWIP)
- Early versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants born at less than 31 weeks of gestational age. A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial
Lastly, the Centre has contributed to several WHO research projects and publications including:
- WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience
- The World Health Organization Fetal Growth Charts: A Multinational Longitudinal Study of Ultrasound Biometric Measurements and Estimated Fetal Weight
- WHO CHAMPION Trial Group. Heat-Stable Carbetocin versus Oxytocin to Prevent Hemorrhage after Vaginal Birth
- Obstetric transition in the World Health Organization Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health: exploring pathways for maternal mortality reduction
- A global reference for caesarean section rates (C-Model): a multicountry cross-sectional study
- Interpregnancy interval and perinatal outcomes across Latin America from 1990 to 2009: a large multi-country study
- Accuracy of angiogenic biomarkers at ⩽20weeks’ gestation in predicting the risk of pre-eclampsia: A WHO multicentre study Pregnancy Hypertension
- Clinical pharmacokinetic properties of magnesium sulphate in women with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
- WHO Working Group on Caesarean Section. WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates
- Room temperature stable carbetocin for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage during the third stage of labour in women delivering vaginally: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
- Maternal near miss and predictive ability of potentially life-threatening conditions at selected maternity hospitals in Latin America
- WHO Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health Research Network. Clinical practice patterns on the use of magnesium sulphate for treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia: a multi-country survey
Webnotes such as these serve to inform on how CCs are contributing to the Organization’s priorities and mandates.
*CC Expired.