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New issue of Reproductive Health Matters on task shifting

Amsterdam, 15 June 2009 – Elsevier announced today the publication of the May 2009 issue of Reproductive Health Matters, on the theme of task shifting. The issue describes innovative efforts to increase access to skilled reproductive health care, particularly in resource-poor settings.

The World Health Organization currently has a department devoted to task shifting, and more and more committed professionals are involved in task-shifting initiatives. Whereas task shifting is sometimes viewed as a panacea for human resources problems, it should in fact be part of an overall strategy to remedy public health services. Task shifting is exposing the cracks in public health systems. Papers in this issue reflect the lack of capacity of countries in the developing world to build and strengthen their health systems and the need for comprehensive efforts that will create a strong, well-trained public health workforce.

In relation to all the various forms of task shifting being attempted, a number of questions are raised in the papers in this journal: What has happened to quality of care and financial remuneration that will sustain health worker outputs? Are there clearly defined tasks for mid-level providers and avoidance of excessive and complex workloads? The articles seek to answer these questions from the perspective of patients and mid-level providers. In certain regions, health care systems have proven to be under-developed, with mid-level providers being willing to take on increased workloads despite insufficient training, equipment, resources and back-up.

There is growing recognition that the renewal of a public health approach is needed, with primary care as its backbone. The editorial in this journal issue argues that health care should be delivered through universal, tax-based, government-regulated public health systems, with university-based public health education and comprehensive medical education and training for health professionals.

Articles include:

Provision of anaesthesia services for emergency obstetric care through task shifting in South Asia

Non-physician clinicians can safely provide first trimester medical abortion

Understanding job satisfaction amongst mid-level cadres in Malawi: the contribution of organisational justice

International health policy and reducing maternal mortality: is there a causal link?

Towards a sexual ethics of rights and responsibilities

Articles in this journal issue focus on Bangladesh, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Iran, Malawi, Mexico, Russia, Senegal and South Africa.

Notes to Editors:

The May 2009 issue of Reproductive Health Matters is available on ScienceDirect.

About Reproductive Health Matters (RHM)

Reproductive Health Matters is published twice a year, in May and November in English, with editions in translation in Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. RHM covers laws, policies, research and services that meet women’s reproductive health needs. Each issue focuses on a main theme and includes feature papers, topical papers on other subjects and a round-up of information from the published literature. Further information can be found on www.rhmjournal.org.uk and www.rhm-elsevier.com.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier’s 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com/), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com/), bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/) is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier’s ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).




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