Countdown to 2015 In-Depth Country Case Study: Afghanistan Presented by: Nadia Akseer, MSc, PhD Candidate University of Toronto Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Canada
Main Objectives To conduct a systematic, comprehensive assessment of RMNCH, nutrition, and survival trends in Afghanistan in the 2001-2014 post- Taliban era To perform an analysis of RMNCH-specific health systems components, policies, and financial flows To determine key predictors of change in health service utilization
Data Sources: Household Surveys National surveys Survey Year Coverage Expanded Program on Immunization Census 2013 National & Provincial National Nutrition Survey 2013 National & Provincial National Nutrition Survey 2004 National Afghanistan Health Survey 2012 National Afghanistan Health Survey 2006 National Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2010-11 National & Regional Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2003-04 National & Regional Afghanistan Mortality Survey 2010 National & Regional National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Survey 2011-12 National & Provincial National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Survey 2007-08 National & Provincial National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Survey 2005-06 National & Provincial Facility-based surveys: Balance Score Cards (2004 2013) Health workforce data (2005 2013) Telecommunications data: Mobile phone tower frequency/spread Security/casualties data: HMIS data from MoPH
Mortality Trends: MMR Target: Reduce MMR to 50% of it s 2003 level (i.e. reduce to 529 per 100K live births) by 2015 Result: MMR decreased from 1057 in 2000 to 402 in 2013 Reduction of 62% between 2000 to 2013 Afghanistan has achieved MDG5a Source: UN-MMEIG, 2014 *Note: IHME reports conflicting results indicating increase in MMR (885 in 2013)
Causes of Maternal Death WHO 46.0 6.0 15.0 12.0 3.0 13.0 5.0 IHME 18.6 9.4 13.5 9.0 13.5 21.2 14.7 Percentage 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Hemorrhage Sepsis/other maternal infections Hypertensive disorders Obstructed labor Abortive outcome Other causes Other direct causes *Respective sample sizes are: WHO n=63,585 (estimated for years 2003 to 2009) IHME n=8,778 (year 2013)
Mortality Rate per 1000 Live Births Mortality Trends: U5MR, NMR 160 Under 5 (IGME) Under 5 (IHME) Neonatal (IGME) Neonatal (IHME) 140 120 127.8 100 80 60 40 49.6 Target U5MR 64.0 91.0 36.0 20 Target NMR 24.8 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Neonatal Cause of Death Major causes of neonatal (1-27 days) and postneonatal death have not changed from 2001 to 2013: Neonatal Preterm birth complications (29% vs. 28%) Intrapartum related events (23% vs. 29%) Infections including sepsis, meningitis, and tetanus (20% vs. 23%) Post-neonatal Diarrhea (24% vs 20%) Pneumonia (26% vs 28%) Source: CHERG, 2014
Prevalence (%) Nutrition Trends in anthropometric nutrition outcomes, children 6-59 months 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 60.5 Stunting Wasting Underweight 54.1 43.1 33.9 25.1 25.5 8.8 13.2 9.0 2004 2011 2013 Year Sources: National Nutrition Survey, 2004, 2013. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2010/11.
Food Insecurity Prevalence of food insecurity across provinces in Afghanistan, 2013 Source: National Nutrition Survey, 2013.
**Demand for family planning satisfied *Antenatal care ( 1 visits) *Antenatal care (4+visits) *ANC by skilled provider **Protected against neonatal tetanus *Skilled attendant at birth *Facility deliveries *Initiation of breasfeeding *Exclusive breastfeeding (0-5 months) *Minimum meal frequency ǂBCG ǂPenta3 ǂMeasles *Received Vitamin A during the last 6 months **Diarrhea treatment (ORS) **Careseeking for pneumonia **Antibiotics for pneumonia *Improved drinking water sources *Improved sanitation facilities 100 90 80 70 60 Coverage Inequity: Provinces Coverage of interventions varies across the continuum of care Median national coverage of selected interventions **MICS 2010,*NNS 2013 & ǂEPIC 2013 Provincial Coverage (%) Pre- Pregnancy Pregnancy Birth Postnatal Infancy Childhood Water and sanitation % 50 40 30 20 10 0
High-impact initiatives Health Systems & Policies Implementing the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) Adapting the contracting-out mechanism Implementing a standardized national salary policy to motivate health care workers to work in rural areas Implementing national programmes (EPI, Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, CBHI, Nutrition, etc.) Training midwives Implementing the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS)
Essential health system factors Strong stewardship by Ministry of Public Health Effective coordination and communication Regular monitoring Health Systems & Policies Health management information system Health system performance assessment and facility surveys (Balance Score Cards) conducted through 3 rd - party mechanisms
Other HW Cadres (Frequency) CHW (Frequency) Health Workforce Community Health Workers MD Specialists MD Generalists Nurses Midwives 10000 35000 9000 8000 7000 6000 18939 19648 21227 23363 25478 28837 30000 25000 20000 5000 4000 3000 10973 14330 15000 10000 2000 1000 0 2682 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 5000 0 Source: HR department, MoPH Afghanistan
Lives Saved Tool (LiST) Over 85% of all deaths could be averted by scaling up all intervention packages to 90% coverage level by 2025 Approx. 135,000 deaths averted annually 84% of neonatal, 92% of post-neonatal, and 89% of maternal deaths
Lives Saved Tool (LiST) Most high impact: + 50% in EmOC and immediate newborn care ~9,900 newborn lives saved + 90% ~30,900 newborn/4,400 maternal lives saved Universal coverage of immunization deaths averted annually 30,700 child Water, hygiene, and sanitation interventions scaled up by 75% from current levels 16,100 child deaths averted Infant and young child feeding programs scaled up by 25% from current levels ~12,100 post-neonatal lives saved
Key Findings Afghanistan has made remarkable progress over a decade, but vast subnational inequities remain. Donor support, strong stewardship, effective health policy frameworks, improved access to care, and increases in skilled health workers contributed to success Further reductions in under-5 mortality require substantial investment in newborn care and in interventions to target stunting Contextual factors, including education and infrastructure (communication and transport systems), and health system strengthening are critically important
The Way Forward Afghanistan must focus on increased investments in social determinants of health interventions to address newborn survival Strategies to reduce health inequities Afghanistan Case Study Research Team Nadia Akseer, MSc, PhD (Candidate) Ahmad S Salehi, MD, MSc, MBA, PhD (Candidate) S M Hossain, MD, MPH, MBA M Taufiq Mashal, MD, PhD M Hafiz Rasooly, MD, MSc Zaid Bhatti, MSc Arjumand Rizvi, MSc Zulfiqar A Bhutta, MD, PhD