Sierra Leone: Mentoring Doubles Baby Survival Rates
- A mentoring program in Sierra Leone is dramatically improving survival rates for pregnant adolescents and their babies.
- Sierra Leone has seen a decline in maternal mortality in recent years, moving from one of the highest rates globally to better than the sub-Saharan African average.
- The 2YoungLives program addresses these issues through community-based mentoring and financial support.
A community-based mentoring program in Sierra Leone is revolutionizing adolescent pregnancy outcomes, dramatically boosting baby survival rates. The 2YoungLives initiative is considerably reducing maternal mortality through thorough support, including business start-up funds that enhance nutrition and future prospects for young mothers and their children. This pioneering effort, underscored by the decline in the maternal mortality ratio, is detailed in a new study from The Lancet and shows the value of local solutions. With potential for global impact, researchers are advocating for expanded trials. News Directory 3 is following this story. Discover what’s next as the program looks toward a larger trial and possible international expansion.
Community Mentoring in Sierra Leone Boosts Survival in Adolescent Pregnancies
A mentoring program in Sierra Leone is dramatically improving survival rates for pregnant adolescents and their babies. The 2YoungLives initiative,now part of the global health group CRIBS, focuses on reducing maternal mortality and strengthening research capabilities within the country.
Sierra Leone has seen a decline in maternal mortality in recent years, moving from one of the highest rates globally to better than the sub-Saharan African average. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) fell almost 40% between 2013 and 2020, from 1,165 to 443 per 100,000 live births. However, the nation still faces significant challenges, including poverty and limited educational opportunities for young mothers.
The 2YoungLives program addresses these issues through community-based mentoring and financial support. The initiative provides business start-up funds, enabling young mothers to improve their nutrition during pregnancy and save for their children’s needs. Many participants have also been able to return to school or pursue vocational training after giving birth, altering their pre-pregnancy trajectory.
The trial goes far beyond clinical results, as it has helped these girls to thrive beyond their pregnancy. The business start-up fund provided a sustainable income, allowing them to eat well during pregnancy and saving for their babies. And many of the girls were able to return to school or followed vocational training after giving birth.
Lucy November and Mangenda Kamara, founders of LNP, emphasize the significant social impact of the program, which extends beyond the clinical trial results. Dr. Cristina Fernandez Turienzo, Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London, highlights the power of locally developed and led community schemes.
This is the first time we have seen just how powerful a locally developed and led community-based mentoring scheme can be for pregnant adolescent girls and their babies-a clear example of why global health research should focus on local solutions to local problems.
What’s next
Researchers recommend conducting a larger trial to capitalize on the pilot study’s findings before expanding the program within Sierra Leone and to other countries, including those wiht high incomes. Professor Jane Sandall CBE of King’s College London suggests that elements of the program could benefit underserved communities in the UK, such as those facing language barriers or difficulty accessing care.