Research Findings

Over the past two decades, EngenderHealth has carried out more than 500 studies worldwide and we have routinely documented, disseminated, and presented our evidence at national and international conferences. Studies include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies as well as program evaluations, literature reviews, and operations and clinical research. These studies draw on international best practices in measurement, as well as new and innovative tools and methodologies developed by EngenderHealth. Our evidence is used to inform the global learning agenda, monitor our progress, and influence programmatic decisions.   

EngenderHealth’s evidence has informed our core impact areas as follows: 

Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR)

EngenderHealth’s SRHR-related research has been extensive and far-reaching, comprising over 125 studies in 25 countries over the past decade. We have conducted research at the health system, facility, provider, and community levels with topics including assessments of the quality of existing services and barriers to care; pilot tests of communications campaigns; evaluations of the effectiveness of clinical and programmatic interventions; assessments of EngenderHealth’s models and tools; and many others. Many of these topics focused on contraceptive care and high-quality services. 

Maternal & Obstetric Care

EngenderHealth has conducted a vast array of studies and evaluations related to maternal, newborn, and child health across Africa and Asia. The studies cover a wide variety of technical areas at various levels of the health system and the community, ranging from cervical cancer screening to fistula care to emergency obstetric and newborn care. Our research has included literature reviews, needs assessments, facility assessments, outcome evaluations, as well as clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials. 

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

EngenderHealth’s research efforts related to gender have included multiple studies and evaluations focused on assessing the effectiveness of programs designed to prevent gender-based violence and HIV and AIDS, as well as on promoting male involvement in GBV and HIV services and in SRHR more broadly. In addition to many operational research studies, we have implemented several outcome evaluations related to our award-winning Men As Partners approach.

Journal Articles Published in 2022 and 2023

Since 2018, EngenderHealth has published over 60 articles and papers in a variety of renowned journals. EngenderHealth’s journal article publications from 2022 and 2023 are listed below. All EngenderHealth journal articles since 2018 are available through our Technical Publications & Resources database. For articles published prior to 2018, please contact us.

“Letter to the Editor: Multidimensional Measures are Key to Understanding Child, Early, and Forced Marriages and Unions” Journal of Adolescent Health (February 2022)

“Factors Associated with Surgical Repair Success of Female Genital Fistula in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Experiences of the Fistula Care Plus Project, 2017–2019” Tropical Medicine & International Health (March 2022)

“The Effects of Interventions to Integrate Long‐Acting Reversible Contraception with Treatment for Incomplete Abortion: Results of a 6‐Year Interrupted Time Series Analysis in Hospitals in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar” International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (April 2022)

“A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Kigoma, Tanzania” Global Health: Science and Practice (April 2022)

“Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in Kigoma, Tanzania: A 13-Year Initiative” Global Health: Science and Practice (April 2022)

“Strengthening Access to Long-Acting Reversible Contraception within Postabortion Care in Tanzania: A Pre-Post Evaluation” African Journal of Reproductive Health (April 2022)

“Factors Associated with Persistent Urinary Incontinence among Women Undergoing Female Genital Fistula Surgery in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2017 to 2019” Frontiers in Global Women’s Health (June 2022)

“Signs of a Turning Tide in Social Norms and Attitudes toward Abortion in Ethiopia: Findings from a Qualitative Study in Four Regions” Reproductive Health (June 2022)

“Integrating Client Tracker Tool into Fistula Management: Experience from the Fistula Care Plus Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2017 to 2019” Frontiers in Public Health (June 2022)

“Understanding Factors Associated with Continuation of Use of Injectable Contraceptives in Karnataka and Maharashtra, India: a cross-sectional household study” [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] Gates Open Research (June 2022)

“Capacity Building in Operational Research On Obstetric Fistula: Experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2017-2021” International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (July 2022)

“Obstetric Fistula in Bangladesh: Estimates From a National Survey With Clinical Validation Correction” Lancet Global Health (September 2022)

“Food Security, Gender, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: A Fragile Golden Thread” The BMJ (October 2022)

“Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Internally Displaced Persons in Ethiopia’s Somali Region: A Qualitative Process Evaluation” Global Health: Science and Practice (October 2022)

“Comparing Three Models of Fistula Care Among Five Facilities in Nigeria and Uganda” Chapter in A Multidisciplinary Approach to Obstetric Fistula in Africa: Public Health, Anthropological, and Medical Perspectives Springer International Publishing Publication (2022)

“Down But Not Out: Vasectomy Is Faring Poorly Almost Everywhere-We Can Do Better To Make It A True Method Option” Global Health: Science and Practice (February 2023)