human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Microfinance institutions have started to bundle their basic loans with other financial services , such as health insurance . Using a r and omized control trial in Karnataka , India , we evaluate the impact on loan renewal from m and ating the purchase of actuarially-fair health insurance covering hospitalization and maternity expenses . Bundling loans with insurance led to a 16 percentage points ( 23 percent ) increase in drop-out from microfinance  , as many clients preferred to give up microfinance than pay higher interest rates and receive insurance . In a Pyrrhic victory , the total absence of dem and for health insurance led to there being no adverse selection in insurance enrollment Objective : To assess effects of a combined microfinance and training intervention on HIV risk behavior  among young female participants in rural South Africa . Design : Secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from a cluster r and omized trial , the Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity study . Methods : Eight villages were pair-matched and r and omly allocated to receive the intervention . At baseline and after 2 years , HIV risk behavior was assessed among female participants aged 14–35 years . Their responses were compared with women of the same age and poverty group from control villages . Intervention effects were calculated using adjusted risk ratios employing village level summaries . Qualitative data collected during the study explored participants ' responses to the intervention including HIV risk behavior . Results : After 2 years of follow-up , when compared with controls , young participants had higher levels of HIV-related communication ( adjusted risk ratio 1.46 , 95 % confidence interval 1.01–2.12 ) , were more likely to have accessed voluntary counseling and testing ( adjusted risk ratio 1.64 , 95 % confidence interval 1.06–2.56 ) , and less likely to have had unprotected sex at last intercourse with a nonspousal partner ( adjusted risk ratio 0.76 , 95 % confidence interval 0.60–0.96 ) . Qualitative data suggest a greater acceptance of intrahousehold communication about HIV and sexuality . Although women noted challenges associated with acceptance of condoms by men , increased confidence and skills associated with participation in the intervention supported their introduction in sexual relationships . Conclusions : In addition to impacts on economic well being , women 's empowerment and intimate partner violence , interventions addressing the economic and social vulnerability of women may contribute to reductions in HIV risk behavior The contribution of acute respiratory infection control project within the framework of micro-credit-based development intervention in promoting maternal knowledge of ARIs in children was assessed . Data came from a cross-sectional survey of 2814 mothers of under 5-y-old children residing in 200 r and omly selected villages in five districts in Bangladesh . Findings revealed that the ARI control project had significant positive effects in raising knowledge of clinical signs and preventive measures . When ARI control project activities were integrated with the credit-based development initiative , maternal knowledge improved even further . The study concludes that the micro-credit programme can be a catalytic agent in raising health knowledge among poor women in developing countries OBJECTIVE To explore whether adding a gender and HIV training programme to microfinance initiatives can lead to health and social benefits beyond those achieved by microfinance alone . METHODS Cross-sectional data were derived from three r and omly selected matched clusters in rural South Africa : ( i ) four villages with 2-year exposure to the Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity ( IMAGE ) , a combined microfinance-health training intervention ; ( ii ) four villages with 2-year exposure to microfinance services alone ; and ( iii ) four control villages not targeted by any intervention .  Adjusted risk ratios ( aRRs ) employing village-level summaries compared associations between groups in relation to indicators of economic well-being , empowerment , intimate partner violence ( IPV ) and HIV risk behaviour . The magnitude and consistency of aRRs allowed for an estimate of incremental effects . FINDINGS A total of 1409 participants were enrolled , all female , with a median age of 45 . After 2 years , both the microfinance-only group and the IMAGE group showed economic improvements relative to the control group . However , only the IMAGE group demonstrated consistent associations across all domains with regard to women 's empowerment , intimate partner violence and HIV risk behaviour . CONCLUSION The addition of a training component to group-based microfinance programmes may be critical for achieving broader health benefits . Donor agencies should encourage intersectoral partnerships that can foster synergy and broaden the health and social effects of economic interventions such as microfinance Formative research uses qualitative and quantitative methods to provide information for research ers to plan intervention programs . Gaps in the formative research literature include how to define goals , implementation plans , and research questions ; select methods ; analyze data ; and develop interventions . The National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute funded the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls ( TAAG ) , a r and omized , multicenter field trial , to reduce the decline in physical activity in adolescent girls . The goals of the TAAG formative research are to ( a ) describe study communities and schools , ( b ) help design the trial ’s interventions , ( c ) develop effective recruitment and retention strategies , and ( d ) design evaluation instruments . To meet these goals , a variety of methods , including telephone interviews , surveys and checklists , semistructured interviews , and focus group discussion s , are employed . The purpose , method of development , and analyses are explained for each method In northern Nigeria , interventions are urgently needed to narrow the large gap between international breastfeeding recommendations and actual breastfeeding practice s. Studies of integrated microcredit and community health interventions documented success in modifying health behaviors but typically had uncontrolled design s. We conducted a cluster-r and omized controlled trial in Bauchi State , Nigeria , with the aim of increasing early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among female microcredit clients . The intervention had 3 components . Trained credit officers led monthly breastfeeding learning sessions during regularly scheduled microcredit meetings for 10 mo . Text and voice messages were sent out weekly to a cell phone provided to small groups of microcredit clients ( 5 - 7 women ) . The small groups prepared songs or dramas about the messages and presented them at the monthly microcredit meetings . The control arm continued with the regular microcredit program . R and omization occurred at the level of the monthly meeting groups . Pregnant clients were recruited at baseline and interviewed again when their infants were aged ≥6 mo . Logistic regression models accounting for clustering were used to estimate the odds of performing recommended behaviors . Among the clients who completed the final survey ( n = 390 ) , the odds of exclusive breastfeeding to 6 mo ( OR : 2.4 ; 95 % CI : 1.4 , 4.0 ) and timely breastfeeding initiation ( OR : 2.6 ; 95 % CI : 1.6 , 4.1 ) were increased in the intervention vs. control arm . Delayed introduction of water explained most of the increase in exclusive breastfeeding among clients receiving the intervention . In conclusion , a breastfeeding promotion intervention integrated into microcredit increased the likelihood that women adopted recommended breastfeeding practice s. This intervention could be scaled up in Nigeria , where local organizations provide microcredit to > 500,000 clients . Furthermore , the intervention could be adopted more widely given that > 150 million women , many of childbearing age , are involved in microfinance globally Many severe health risks in developing countries could be substantially reduced with access to appropriate preventive measures . However , the associated costs are often high enough to restrict access among poor households , and free provision through public health campaigns is often not financially feasible . We describe findings from the first large-scale cluster r and omized controlled trial in a developing country context that evaluates the uptake of a health-protecting technology , insecticide-treated bednets ( ITNs ) , through micro-consumer loans , as compared to free distribution and control conditions . Numerous studies have shown that widespread , regular use of ITNs is one the most effective preventive measures against malaria . However , ownership rates remain very low in most malarious areas , including our study areas in rural Orissa ( India ) . Despite the un-subsidized price , 52 percent of sample households purchased at least one ITN  , leading to 16 percent of individuals using a treated net the previous night , relative to only 2 percent in control areas where nets were not offered for sale . However , the increase fell significantly short of the 47 percent previous-night usage rate achieved with free distribution . Most strikingly , we find that neither micro-loans nor free distribution led to improvements in malaria and anemia prevalence , measured using blood tests . We examine and rule out several plausible explanations for this latter finding . We conjecture that insufficient ITN coverage is the most likely explanation , and discuss implication s for public health policy BACKGROUND Women 's groups and health education by peer counsellors can improve the health of mothers and children . We assessed their effects on mortality and breastfeeding rates  in rural Malawi . METHODS We did a 2 × 2 factorial , cluster-r and omised trial in 185,888 people in Mchinji district . 48 equal-sized clusters were r and omly allocated to four groups with a computer-generated number sequence . 24 facilitators guided groups through a community action cycle to tackle maternal and child health problems . 72 trained volunteer peer counsellors  made home visits at five timepoints during pregnancy and after birth to support breastfeeding and infant care . Primary outcomes for the women 's group intervention were maternal , perinatal , neonatal , and infant mortality rates ( MMR , PMR , NMR , and IMR , respectively ) ; and for the peer counselling were IMR and exclusive breastfeeding ( EBF ) rates . Analysis was by intention to treat . The trial is registered as IS RCT N06477126 . FINDINGS We monitored outcomes of 26,262 births between 2005 and 2009 . In a factorial model adjusted only for clustering and the volunteer peer counselling intervention , in women 's group areas , for years 2 and 3 , we noted non-significant decreases in NMR ( odds ratio 0.93 , 0.64 - 1.35 ) and MMR ( 0.54 , 0.28 - 1.04 ) . After adjustment for parity , socioeconomic quintile , and baseline measures , effects were larger for NMR ( 0.85 , 0.59 - 1.22 ) and MMR ( 0.48 , 0.26 - 0.91 ) . Because of the interaction between the two interventions , a stratified analysis was done . For women 's groups , in adjusted analyses , MMR fell by 74 % ( 0.26 , 0.10 - 0.70 ) , and NMR by 41 % ( 0.59 , 0.40 - 0.86 ) in areas with no peer counsellors , but there was no effect in areas with counsellors ( 1.09 , 0.40 - 2.98 , and 1.38 , 0.75 - 2.54 ) . Factorial analysis for the peer counselling intervention for years 1 - 3 showed a fall in IMR of 18 % ( 0.82 , 0.67 - 1.00 ) and an improvement in EBF rates ( 2.42 , 1.48 - 3.96 ) . The results of the stratified , adjusted analysis showed a 36 % reduction in IMR ( 0.64 , 0.48 - 0.85 ) but no effect on EBF ( 1.18 , 0.63 - 2.25 ) in areas without women 's groups , and in areas with women 's groups there was no effect on IMR ( 1.05 , 0.82 - 1.36 ) and an increase in EBF ( 5.02 , 2.67 - 9.44 ) . The cost of women 's groups was US$ 114 per year of life lost ( YLL ) averted and that of peer counsellors was $ 33 per YLL averted , using stratified data from single intervention comparisons . INTERPRETATION Community mobilisation through women 's groups and volunteer peer counsellor health education are methods to improve maternal and child health outcomes in poor rural population s in Africa . FUNDING Saving Newborn Lives , UK Department for International Development , and Wellcome Trust BACKGROUND Neonatal deaths in developing countries make the largest contribution to global mortality in children younger than 5 years . 90 % of deliveries in the poorest quintile of households happen at home . We postulated that a community-based participatory intervention could significantly reduce neonatal mortality rates . METHODS We pair-matched 42 geopolitical clusters in Makwanpur district , Nepal , selected 12 pairs r and omly , and r and omly assigned one of each pair to intervention or control . In each intervention cluster ( average population 7000 ) , a female facilitator convened nine women 's group meetings every month . The facilitator supported groups through an action-learning cycle in which they identified local perinatal problems and formulated strategies to address them . We monitored birth outcomes in a cohort of 28?931 women , of whom 8 % joined the groups . The primary outcome was neonatal mortality rate . Other outcomes included stillbirths and maternal deaths , uptake of antenatal and delivery services , home care practice s , infant morbidity , and health-care seeking . Analysis was by intention to treat . The study is registered as an International St and ard R and omised Controlled Trial , number IS RCT N31137309 . FINDINGS From 2001 to 2003 , the neonatal mortality rate was 26.2 per 1000 ( 76 deaths per 2899 livebirths ) in intervention clusters compared with 36.9 per 1000 ( 119 deaths per 3226 livebirths ) in controls ( adjusted odds ratio 
    Output:
    
agent
Results Most interventions combined microfinance with health education , which demonstrated positive effects on health knowledge and behaviours , though not health status .
Interventions combining multiple health components in a given study demonstrated positive effects , though it was unclear which component was driving the effect .
Discussion Integrated microfinance and health education programs were effective , though longer intervention periods are necessary to measure more complex pathways to health status .
The effect of microfinance combined with other health components was less clear .
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Microfinance institutions have started to bundle their basic loans with other financial services , such as health insurance . Using a r and omized control trial in Karnataka , India , we evaluate the impact on loan renewal from m and ating the purchase of actuarially-fair health insurance covering hospitalization and maternity expenses . Bundling loans with insurance led to a 16 percentage points ( 23 percent ) increase in drop-out from microfinance  , as many clients preferred to give up microfinance than pay higher interest rates and receive insurance . In a Pyrrhic victory , the total absence of dem and for health insurance led to there being no adverse selection in insurance enrollment Objective : To assess effects of a combined microfinance and training intervention on HIV risk behavior  among young female participants in rural South Africa . Design : Secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from a cluster r and omized trial , the Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity study . Methods : Eight villages were pair-matched and r and omly allocated to receive the intervention . At baseline and after 2 years , HIV risk behavior was assessed among female participants aged 14–35 years . Their responses were compared with women of the same age and poverty group from control villages . Intervention effects were calculated using adjusted risk ratios employing village level summaries . Qualitative data collected during the study explored participants ' responses to the intervention including HIV risk behavior . Results : After 2 years of follow-up , when compared with controls , young participants had higher levels of HIV-related communication ( adjusted risk ratio 1.46 , 95 % confidence interval 1.01–2.12 ) , were more likely to have accessed voluntary counseling and testing ( adjusted risk ratio 1.64 , 95 % confidence interval 1.06–2.56 ) , and less likely to have had unprotected sex at last intercourse with a nonspousal partner ( adjusted risk ratio 0.76 , 95 % confidence interval 0.60–0.96 ) . Qualitative data suggest a greater acceptance of intrahousehold communication about HIV and sexuality . Although women noted challenges associated with acceptance of condoms by men , increased confidence and skills associated with participation in the intervention supported their introduction in sexual relationships . Conclusions : In addition to impacts on economic well being , women 's empowerment and intimate partner violence , interventions addressing the economic and social vulnerability of women may contribute to reductions in HIV risk behavior The contribution of acute respiratory infection control project within the framework of micro-credit-based development intervention in promoting maternal knowledge of ARIs in children was assessed . Data came from a cross-sectional survey of 2814 mothers of under 5-y-old children residing in 200 r and omly selected villages in five districts in Bangladesh . Findings revealed that the ARI control project had significant positive effects in raising knowledge of clinical signs and preventive measures . When ARI control project activities were integrated with the credit-based development initiative , maternal knowledge improved even further . The study concludes that the micro-credit programme can be a catalytic agent in raising health knowledge among poor women in developing countries OBJECTIVE To explore whether adding a gender and HIV training programme to microfinance initiatives can lead to health and social benefits beyond those achieved by microfinance alone . METHODS Cross-sectional data were derived from three r and omly selected matched clusters in rural South Africa : ( i ) four villages with 2-year exposure to the Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity ( IMAGE ) , a combined microfinance-health training intervention ; ( ii ) four villages with 2-year exposure to microfinance services alone ; and ( iii ) four control villages not targeted by any intervention .  Adjusted risk ratios ( aRRs ) employing village-level summaries compared associations between groups in relation to indicators of economic well-being , empowerment , intimate partner violence ( IPV ) and HIV risk behaviour . The magnitude and consistency of aRRs allowed for an estimate of incremental effects . FINDINGS A total of 1409 participants were enrolled , all female , with a median age of 45 . After 2 years , both the microfinance-only group and the IMAGE group showed economic improvements relative to the control group . However , only the IMAGE group demonstrated consistent associations across all domains with regard to women 's empowerment , intimate partner violence and HIV risk behaviour . CONCLUSION The addition of a training component to group-based microfinance programmes may be critical for achieving broader health benefits . Donor agencies should encourage intersectoral partnerships that can foster synergy and broaden the health and social effects of economic interventions such as microfinance Formative research uses qualitative and quantitative methods to provide information for research ers to plan intervention programs . Gaps in the formative research literature include how to define goals , implementation plans , and research questions ; select methods ; analyze data ; and develop interventions . The National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute funded the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls ( TAAG ) , a r and omized , multicenter field trial , to reduce the decline in physical activity in adolescent girls . The goals of the TAAG formative research are to ( a ) describe study communities and schools , ( b ) help design the trial ’s interventions , ( c ) develop effective recruitment and retention strategies , and ( d ) design evaluation instruments . To meet these goals , a variety of methods , including telephone interviews , surveys and checklists , semistructured interviews , and focus group discussion s , are employed . The purpose , method of development , and analyses are explained for each method In northern Nigeria , interventions are urgently needed to narrow the large gap between international breastfeeding recommendations and actual breastfeeding practice s. Studies of integrated microcredit and community health interventions documented success in modifying health behaviors but typically had uncontrolled design s. We conducted a cluster-r and omized controlled trial in Bauchi State , Nigeria , with the aim of increasing early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among female microcredit clients . The intervention had 3 components . Trained credit officers led monthly breastfeeding learning sessions during regularly scheduled microcredit meetings for 10 mo . Text and voice messages were sent out weekly to a cell phone provided to small groups of microcredit clients ( 5 - 7 women ) . The small groups prepared songs or dramas about the messages and presented them at the monthly microcredit meetings . The control arm continued with the regular microcredit program . R and omization occurred at the level of the monthly meeting groups . Pregnant clients were recruited at baseline and interviewed again when their infants were aged ≥6 mo . Logistic regression models accounting for clustering were used to estimate the odds of performing recommended behaviors . Among the clients who completed the final survey ( n = 390 ) , the odds of exclusive breastfeeding to 6 mo ( OR : 2.4 ; 95 % CI : 1.4 , 4.0 ) and timely breastfeeding initiation ( OR : 2.6 ; 95 % CI : 1.6 , 4.1 ) were increased in the intervention vs. control arm . Delayed introduction of water explained most of the increase in exclusive breastfeeding among clients receiving the intervention . In conclusion , a breastfeeding promotion intervention integrated into microcredit increased the likelihood that women adopted recommended breastfeeding practice s. This intervention could be scaled up in Nigeria , where local organizations provide microcredit to > 500,000 clients . Furthermore , the intervention could be adopted more widely given that > 150 million women , many of childbearing age , are involved in microfinance globally Many severe health risks in developing countries could be substantially reduced with access to appropriate preventive measures . However , the associated costs are often high enough to restrict access among poor households , and free provision through public health campaigns is often not financially feasible . We describe findings from the first large-scale cluster r and omized controlled trial in a developing country context that evaluates the uptake of a health-protecting technology , insecticide-treated bednets ( ITNs ) , through micro-consumer loans , as compared to free distribution and control conditions . Numerous studies have shown that widespread , regular use of ITNs is one the most effective preventive measures against malaria . However , ownership rates remain very low in most malarious areas , including our study areas in rural Orissa ( India ) . Despite the un-subsidized price , 52 percent of sample households purchased at least one ITN  , leading to 16 percent of individuals using a treated net the previous night , relative to only 2 percent in control areas where nets were not offered for sale . However , the increase fell significantly short of the 47 percent previous-night usage rate achieved with free distribution . Most strikingly , we find that neither micro-loans nor free distribution led to improvements in malaria and anemia prevalence , measured using blood tests . We examine and rule out several plausible explanations for this latter finding . We conjecture that insufficient ITN coverage is the most likely explanation , and discuss implication s for public health policy BACKGROUND Women 's groups and health education by peer counsellors can improve the health of mothers and children . We assessed their effects on mortality and breastfeeding rates  in rural Malawi . METHODS We did a 2 × 2 factorial , cluster-r and omised trial in 185,888 people in Mchinji district . 48 equal-sized clusters were r and omly allocated to four groups with a computer-generated number sequence . 24 facilitators guided groups through a community action cycle to tackle maternal and child health problems . 72 trained volunteer peer counsellors  made home visits at five timepoints during pregnancy and after birth to support breastfeeding and infant care . Primary outcomes for the women 's group intervention were maternal , perinatal , neonatal , and infant mortality rates ( MMR , PMR , NMR , and IMR , respectively ) ; and for the peer counselling were IMR and exclusive breastfeeding ( EBF ) rates . Analysis was by intention to treat . The trial is registered as IS RCT N06477126 . FINDINGS We monitored outcomes of 26,262 births between 2005 and 2009 . In a factorial model adjusted only for clustering and the volunteer peer counselling intervention , in women 's group areas , for years 2 and 3 , we noted non-significant decreases in NMR ( odds ratio 0.93 , 0.64 - 1.35 ) and MMR ( 0.54 , 0.28 - 1.04 ) . After adjustment for parity , socioeconomic quintile , and baseline measures , effects were larger for NMR ( 0.85 , 0.59 - 1.22 ) and MMR ( 0.48 , 0.26 - 0.91 ) . Because of the interaction between the two interventions , a stratified analysis was done . For women 's groups , in adjusted analyses , MMR fell by 74 % ( 0.26 , 0.10 - 0.70 ) , and NMR by 41 % ( 0.59 , 0.40 - 0.86 ) in areas with no peer counsellors , but there was no effect in areas with counsellors ( 1.09 , 0.40 - 2.98 , and 1.38 , 0.75 - 2.54 ) . Factorial analysis for the peer counselling intervention for years 1 - 3 showed a fall in IMR of 18 % ( 0.82 , 0.67 - 1.00 ) and an improvement in EBF rates ( 2.42 , 1.48 - 3.96 ) . The results of the stratified , adjusted analysis showed a 36 % reduction in IMR ( 0.64 , 0.48 - 0.85 ) but no effect on EBF ( 1.18 , 0.63 - 2.25 ) in areas without women 's groups , and in areas with women 's groups there was no effect on IMR ( 1.05 , 0.82 - 1.36 ) and an increase in EBF ( 5.02 , 2.67 - 9.44 ) . The cost of women 's groups was US$ 114 per year of life lost ( YLL ) averted and that of peer counsellors was $ 33 per YLL averted , using stratified data from single intervention comparisons . INTERPRETATION Community mobilisation through women 's groups and volunteer peer counsellor health education are methods to improve maternal and child health outcomes in poor rural population s in Africa . FUNDING Saving Newborn Lives , UK Department for International Development , and Wellcome Trust BACKGROUND Neonatal deaths in developing countries make the largest contribution to global mortality in children younger than 5 years . 90 % of deliveries in the poorest quintile of households happen at home . We postulated that a community-based participatory intervention could significantly reduce neonatal mortality rates . METHODS We pair-matched 42 geopolitical clusters in Makwanpur district , Nepal , selected 12 pairs r and omly , and r and omly assigned one of each pair to intervention or control . In each intervention cluster ( average population 7000 ) , a female facilitator convened nine women 's group meetings every month . The facilitator supported groups through an action-learning cycle in which they identified local perinatal problems and formulated strategies to address them . We monitored birth outcomes in a cohort of 28?931 women , of whom 8 % joined the groups . The primary outcome was neonatal mortality rate . Other outcomes included stillbirths and maternal deaths , uptake of antenatal and delivery services , home care practice s , infant morbidity , and health-care seeking . Analysis was by intention to treat . The study is registered as an International St and ard R and omised Controlled Trial , number IS RCT N31137309 . FINDINGS From 2001 to 2003 , the neonatal mortality rate was 26.2 per 1000 ( 76 deaths per 2899 livebirths ) in intervention clusters compared with 36.9 per 1000 ( 119 deaths per 3226 livebirths ) in controls ( adjusted odds ratio 
    Output:
    