International research has shown that, in addition to maternal illnesses and deaths, women’s health is affected by a large number of gynaecological conditions, which do not receive the same attention and resources from the international cooperation on health. For this reason, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has developed a high-quality training initiative: the Essential Gynaecology Skills (EGS), which started in 2016. Through a hands-on and well-structured training package, the EGS aims to improve the quality of healthcare for women with gynaecological diseases in low-resource settings. The sessions promote task sharing/task shifting by targeting nurses, midwives, and non-specialist doctors working in those contexts.

In 2020, the RCOG commissioned IWORDS Consulting to update and generate relevant information about the current situation of key gynaecological conditions covered by the EGS programme: contraception, sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV, emergency gynaecology and management of acutely ill women, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), cervical cancer, early pregnancy loss, subfertility, urogynaecology, and gender-based violence (GBV). In this way, the RCOG can refine their strategies globally and in four selected countries: Nigeria, Uganda, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. As part of the consultancy, IWORDS Consulting:

Estimated the mortality and morbidity level of the gynaecological conditions included in the EGS programme (for the period 1990-2017), through the analysis and data processing of the 2019 Global Burden Disease study. 

Estimated and compared the patterns of gynaecological conditions with other relevant illnesses, such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Illustrated all results through graphs that effectively communicate the key message: maternity is a key component of women’s health, but not the only one. Gynaecological conditions cause even more death and disability than other illnesses covered by the international cooperation on health.

Developed four case studies (Nigeria, Uganda, Bangladesh, and Myanmar) to delve into the local context and the morbidity profile in terms of the gynaecological non-maternal conditions at the country level. They also interviewed health providers and key stakeholders in order to gain a better understanding of the local dynamic and the perception of the EGC Programme.

IWORDS Consulting is honoured to work with the RCOG and support their incredible work on women’s global health. IWORDS Consulting appreciates the RCOG’s trust in their technical services and advice.