DEVELOPING A NETWORK - THE PMM PROCESS

Since 1988, the Prevention of Maternal Mortality (PMM) Network has dev eloped, implemented and evaluated projects that focus directly on prev ention of maternal deaths. The Network, which consists of 11 multidisc iplinary teams in West Africa and one at Columbia University, grew fro m discussions between the Carnegie Corporation of New York and researc hers at Columbia School of Public Health. Its goals are: to strengthen capacities in developing countries; to provide program models for pre venting maternal deaths; and to inform policymakers about the importan ce of maternal mortality. This paper describes the development and fun ctioning of the Network. The initial steps included identifying intere sted partners in Africa and encouraging them to form multidisciplinary teams. Each African team received two grants: one to perform a needs assessment and then another to develop and implement projects based on the results. The Columbia team provided technical assistance in a var iety of ways, including site visits, workshops and correspondence. Tea ms tested program models and reported findings both to local policymak ers and in international fora. Collaboration with government and commu nity leaders helped facilitate progress at all stages. At the PMM Netw ork Results Conference in 1996, the teams decided to continue their wo rk by forming the Regional PMM (RPMM) Network, an entirely African ent ity. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.