title: Cross-country analysis of strategies for achieving progress towards global goals for women's and children's health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify how 10 low- and middle-income countries achieved accelerated progress, ahead of comparable countries, towards meeting millennium development goals 4 and 5A to reduce child and maternal mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  We synthesized findings from multistakeholder dialogues and country policy reports conducted previously for the Success Factors studies in 10 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda and Viet Nam. A framework approach was used to analyse and synthesize the data from the country reports, resulting in descriptive or explanatory conclusions by theme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful policy and programme approaches were categorized in four strategic areas: leadership and multistakeholder partnerships; health sector; sectors outside health; and accountability for resources and results. Consistent and coordinated inputs across sectors, based on high-impact interventions, were assessed. Within the health sector, key policy and programme strategies included defining standards, collecting and using data, improving financial protection, and improving the availability and quality of services. Outside the health sector, strategies included investing in girls' education, water, sanitation and hygiene, poverty reduction, nutrition and food security, and infrastructure development. Countries improved accountability by strengthening and using data systems for planning and evaluating progress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing maternal and child mortality in the 10 fast-track countries can be linked to consistent and coordinated policy and programme inputs across health and other sectors. The approaches used by successful countries have relevance to other countries looking to scale-up or accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goals.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Universal Health Coverage, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh .
authors.forename: Syed Masud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Health Systems and Population Studies Division, International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka, Bangladesh .
authors.forename: Lal B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rawal
authors.affiliation: Independent Expert and Consultant Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Policy and Implementation, Dhaka, Bangladesh .
authors.forename: Sadia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Consultant, Iowa City, United States of America (USA).
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: International Health and Development, ICF International, Fairfax, USA .
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arscott-Mills
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand .
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.affiliation: Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, Geneva, Switzerland .
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Universal Health Coverage, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh .
authors.forename: Prima M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Family, Women's and Children's Health, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland .
authors.forename: Shyama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuruvilla
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health; D046688:Child Mortality / Q000639:trends; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003906:Developing Countries; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D005523:Food Supply / Q000379:methods; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D007857:Leadership; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057766:Policy; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012499:Sanitation / Q000379:methods; D016387:Women's Health; D014944:World Health Organization