title: Maternal and perinatal health research priorities beyond 2015: an international survey and prioritization exercise.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 1990, but over a quarter million women still die every year of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal-health related targets are falling short of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and a post-2015 Development Agenda is emerging. In connection with this, setting global research priorities for the next decade is now required.
  
  
  METHODS
  We adapted the methods of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) to identify and set global research priorities for maternal and perinatal health for the period 2015 to 2025. Priority research questions were received from various international stakeholders constituting a large reference group, and consolidated into a final list of research questions by a technical working group. Questions on this list were then scored by the reference working group according to five independent and equally weighted criteria. Normalized research priority scores (NRPS) were calculated, and research priority questions were ranked accordingly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A list of 190 priority research questions for improving maternal and perinatal health was scored by 140 stakeholders. Most priority research questions (89%) were concerned with the evaluation of implementation and delivery of existing interventions, with research subthemes frequently concerned with training and/or awareness interventions (11%), and access to interventions and/or services (14%). Twenty-one questions (11%) involved the discovery of new interventions or technologies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key research priorities in maternal and perinatal health were identified. The resulting ranked list of research questions provides a valuable resource for health research investors, researchers and other stakeholders. We are hopeful that this exercise will inform the post-2015 Development Agenda and assist donors, research-policy decision makers and researchers to invest in research that will ultimately make the most significant difference in the lives of mothers and babies.
authors.affiliation: UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. jpsouza@fmrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Joao Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: Ahmet Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gülmezoglu
authors.forename: Theresa Anne
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.forename: Ebunoluwa Aderonke
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Adejuyigbe
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carroli
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.forename: Sheena M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dowswell
authors.forename: Justus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hofmeyr
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lavender
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lawn
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mader
authors.forename: Francisco Eulógio
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Kidza
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mugerwa
authors.forename: Zahida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Maria Asuncion
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.forename: Hora
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soltani
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torloni
authors.forename: Eleni Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Tsigas
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vowles
authors.forename: Léopold
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ouedraogo
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serruya
authors.forename: Jamela
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al-Raiby
authors.forename: Narimah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Awin
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Matthews
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahl
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martines
authors.forename: Bela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ganatra
authors.forename: Sharon Jelena
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Brooke Ronald
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Joshua P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Olufemi T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Oladapo
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D011247:Pregnancy; D012106:Research
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