Blueprint to Close the Women%E2%80%99s Health Gap 2025

Women in all countries could benefit from infrastructure, trained healthcare workforces and innovations that prioritize lifespan and health- span conditions. These solutions can be high-quality and cost effective. One recent study of 78 hospitals in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania found that providing calibrated blood-collection drapes and using bundled first-response treatment in hospitals helped diagnose post-partum haemorrhage earlier while also using resources more effectively.176 Low-dose aspirin is known to reduce the risk of maternal hypertensive disorders. One study found that women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Pakistan and Zambia with a singleton pregnancy who received low-dose aspirin were 11% less likely to deliver before 37 weeks. Similarly, the risk of early pre-term birth was lowered by 25% and perinatal mortality was decreased by 16%.177 More research is needed in LICs and LMICs to evaluate and overcome the barriers to women taking aspirin when indicated. Digital health can also be an impactful catalyst. A programme in Tanzania and Lesotho, m-mama, connects women to community drivers and local ambulances via a technology platform to provide emergency transport for women in pregnancy and labour. m-mama provides a toll-free phone number and connects callers to a government-owned and operated dispatch service, which triages the woman’s condition and deploys transport nationwide to the nearest and most appropriate facility identified by the platform. The programme provides approximately 50,000 rides annually and is set to launch in Kenya in 2025. m-mama found that maternal mortality reduced by 27% and infant mortality reduced by 40% in its pilot regions.178 However, even as digital health solutions become more accessible, stakeholders may consider how all countries – including HICs – are assessing their use across populations. A World Health Organization European Scoping Review found that the women studied were among those less likely to have access to digital technology or motivation to engage with digital platforms and that they are among the groups more likely to lack knowledge, skills and confidence in using digital technology.179 Other studies of pregnant women in Europe have found that factors such as less education, lower income or not speaking the native language can make digital tools less effective.180,181 However, an analysis of midwives largely across HICs found that many were positive about sending customizable SMS (text messages) and offering remote monitoring during pregnancy, noting that it complimented their work in high-risk pregnancies.182 Accessible and affordable interventions can prevent DALYs and save women’s lives during pregnancy and delivery. Investment and research in care delivery innovation in LICs and LMICs could yield creative solutions for some of the biggest health challenges women and their children face.3.4 Include all women: Develop accessible solutions to enable early intervention and treatment for women around the world Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap: How to Improve Lives and Economies for All 31