Sarah Castle Consultancy

Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

My doctoral dissertation back in 1992 was on 'Intra-household variation in child care and illness management in rural Mali'. Since then I have gained considerable additional experience in the evaluation of maternal and child health programmes with a focus on the social context of preventive and curative care. I have done a lot of work relating to women's status and health-seeking behaviour and, in particular on the ways in which access to health services are a function of mothers' knowledge, autonomy, time and economic resources. I also have expertise in service integration - for example, the integration of immunisation and family planning and in the measurement of the impact of such approaches to service delivery.

February 2019 - The Population Council (Breakthrough Research)/USAID-Mali: Research design for formative, qualitative study of socio-cultural factors influencing behaviour change in Mali. The study explored not just beliefs but also gender relations, perceptions of agency, household hierarchies, and associated power dynamics over the female life-cycle. Findings identified barriers as well as potential pathways of influence in relation to health-seeking behavior and health outcomes and inform USAID's next strategic five-year plan for investing in Maternal and Child health initiatives.
December 2018 - The Mitchell Group/USAID-Mali: Co-authored an evaluation of High Impact Health Services (SSGI) and the Social Marketing and Behavior Change Communications (KJK) programs in Mali.
February 2018 - Care, Atlanta, USA: Assisted with proposal development in response to USAID RFA on Integrated Health Services in Benin. I carried out a literature review of existing evidence and gaps, co-facilitated a partners' workshop in Cotonou and wrote up a preliminary Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP).
August 2014 - ICF International (Demographic and Health Surveys Program): Produced two country reports on child health and malaria based on further analysis of data from the 2012-2013 Mali Demographic and Health Survey.
April 2014 - Save the Children/USAID: Evaluated of Maternal and Child Integrated Program (MCHIP) in Mali which focused upon improving national health strategies, policies and programs. Field visits documented challenges related to integrated community case management (iCCM) as well as a package for delivery (including neonatal resuscitation) and post-natal care (including post-partum family planning).

Links

		MCHIP Mali End of Project Report		Child health and nutrition, Mali 2012-13 DHS		Malaria Prevention, Mali 2012-13 DHS
Performance Evaluation of the High-Impact Health Services (SSGI) and the Social and Behavior Change Communication (KJK) Programs