An academic organization to provide technical support in conducting a review (WHO)

#033 - Job Title: An academic organization to provide technical support to the WHO Viet Nam Country Office in conducting a review on the integration of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) interventions into maternal and child health (MCH) services as one component of the project “Improving the Quality of Hospital Care to Reduce Maternal Newborn and Child Deaths and Accelerate the Achievement of the SDG Health Targets”

1. Background:

Within the UHC program, WHO is supporting the maternal and child health program to improve the coverage and quality of health services, with the priority to the disadvantage areas in order to help reduce maternal and child mortalities and close the gap between remote and other areas.

Most major maternal deaths results from five major causes: severe bleeding, high blood pressure, sepsis, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour. However, the indirect maternal deaths that are a consequence of pre-existing chronic conditions have been on the rise with NCDs (14.8%), other indirect causes (7.2%) and mental disorders (10-41%) making up almost one-third of all maternal death.

In Viet Nam, the burden of NCDs has been increasing rapidly which is accounted for more than two third of morbidity and mortality in Viet Nam. It has resulted in the increasing prevalence of diabetics, hypertension, cervical and breast cancers, and mental disorders among pregnant women and mothers which have been observed recently. These conditions during pregnancy increase the risk of spontaneous abortion, still birth, congenital malformations, infant respiratory death syndrome and birth injuries.

This additional NCD burden and responses in maternal and child health should be taken into account in strengthening health system to improve quality of maternal and child health care.

With this purpose, there is a need to identify a team of researchers from an academic organization to conduct the review on the current situation of burden of NCDs among pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and integration of prevention, early detection and management of non-communicable diseases NCDs into maternal and child health services MCH in Viet Nam.

2. Planned timelines

Start date: 04 October 2022
End date: 30 March 2023

3. Work to be performed

Method(s) to carry out the activity

The research team from an academic institution will work closely with WHO team to produce the following deliverables:

Outputs:

Output 1: A literature review of the current situation of NCD risk factors and NCD burden, and national guidelines, policies, programs implementation for health promotion, early detection, and management of NCDs including diabetics, hypertension, cervical and breast cancers, and mental disorders for women including during pregnancies and breastfeeding period.

Deliverable 1: outline the literature review with keywords for searching
Deliverable 2: draft a literature review report on the current situation of gestational hypertension and diabetics, and national guidelines, policies, programs, and the service delivery system including reporting system for health promotion, early detection, and management of NCDs for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Output 2: Qualitative research to identify the integration of NCDs health promotion, early detection and management for pregnant and breastfeeding women

Deliverable 1: design for qualitative research with identified key informant interview
Deliverable 2: key informant interviews completed, and a draft report developed on the situation and integration of the service delivery system for health promotion, early detection, and management of NCDs for women including during pregnancies and breastfeeding period. The report is expected to include advantages, gaps and recommendations.

Output 3: Conduct a meeting with relevant experts to provide comments on the draft reports and finalization

Deliverable 1: Meeting with stakeholders conducted to share draft reports for comments
Deliverable 2: Consolidate and finalize the report

4. Specific requirements

4.1. Qualifications

Essential: Post graduate degree in relevant areas including medicine and public health from a recognized university
Desirable: Qualifications in research methods and data analysis

4.2. Experiences:

Essential:

At least 10 years of working experiences in public health including doing quantitative and qualitative research, monitoring and evaluation.
Having working and/or research experiences in the areas of non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health areas
Having working and/or research experiences in the health service delivery system

Desirable:

Working experiences in health sector and with international agencies/UN partners
Working experiences in research in the field of health service delivery

4.3. Technical skills and knowledge:

Knowledge and basic skills in qualitative and quantitative research, including data collection, analysis and writing report, in monitoring and evaluation of public health interventions.
Ability to interact with health and other professionals at various levels and to work with government officials and nongovernmental organizations.

4.4. Language requirements:

Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and Vietnamese

4.5. Competencies

Communication
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Ability to demonstrate gender equality and cultural appropriateness within the office and among partners.
Producing results

5. Place of assignment: Hanoi, Viet Nam

6. Medical clearance: Medical clearance is not required for this contractual partner.

7. Travel: The contractual partner’s team is not expected to travel.

8. Budget

Please take note of the following when submitting proposal: The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

Full proposal with estimation of costs and supporting documents should be received on/or before 20 September 2022 and should be addressed to: