The evidence is concentrated in two types of PMM strategies : implementation strategies ( in-service training , continuing education , supervision ) and performance-based financing .
Major gaps exist in accountability arrangements particularly the use of audit and feedback .
The least studied types of outcomes were unintended effects , harm and social equity .
Conclusions The evidence is clustered around interventions that are unlikely to achieve transformational change in health outcomes .
The gaps identified suggest that routinely used PMM strategies are implemented without sufficient knowledge of their effects .
Introduction We mapped available evidence on  performance measurement and management ( PMM ) strategies in primary healthcare ( PHC ) systems of low-income and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .
Widely used , their effectiveness remains inconclusive .
This evidence gap map characterises existing research and evidence gaps .
Effects of quality improvement in health facilities and community mobilization through women’s groups on maternal, neonatal and perinatal mortality in three districts of Malawi: MaiKhanda, a cluster randomized controlled effectiveness trial
Background Maternal , perinatal and neonatal mortality remains high in low-income countries . We evaluated community and facility-based interventions to reduce deaths in three districts of Malawi . Methods We evaluated a rural participatory women ’s group community intervention ( CI ) and a quality improvement intervention at health centres ( FI ) via a two-by-two factorial cluster r and omized controlled trial . Consenting pregnant women were followed-up to 2 months after birth using key informants . Primary outcomes were maternal , perinatal and neonatal mortality . Clusters were health centre catchment areas assigned using stratified computer-generated r and omization . Following exclusions , including non-birthing facilities , 61 clusters were analysed : control ( 17 clusters , 4912 births ) , FI ( 15 , 5335 ) , CI ( 15 , 5080 ) and FI + CI ( 14 , 5249 ) . This trial was registered as International St and ard R and omised Controlled Trial [ IS RCT N18073903 ] . Outcomes for 14 576 and 20 576 births were recorded during baseline ( June 2007–September 2008 ) and intervention ( October 2008–December 2010 ) periods . Results For control , FI , CI and FI + CI clusters neonatal mortality rates were 34.0 , 28.3 , 29.9 and 27.0 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births and perinatal mortality rates were 56.2 , 55.1 , 48.0 and 48.4 per 1000 births , during the intervention period . Adjusting for clustering and stratification , the neonatal mortality rate was 22 % lower in FI + CI than control clusters ( OR = 0.78 , 95 % CI 0.60–1.01 ) , and the perinatal mortality rate was 16 % lower in CI clusters ( OR = 0.84 , 95 % CI 0.72–0.97 ) . We did not observe any intervention effects on maternal mortality . Conclusions Despite implementation problems , a combined community and facility approach using participatory women ’s groups and quality improvement at health centres reduced newborn mortality in rural Malawi
The evidence is concentrated in two types of PMM strategies : implementation strategies ( in-service training , continuing education , supervision ) and performance-based financing .
Major gaps exist in accountability arrangements particularly the use of audit and feedback .
The least studied types of outcomes were unintended effects , harm and social equity .
Conclusions The evidence is clustered around interventions that are unlikely to achieve transformational change in health outcomes .
The gaps identified suggest that routinely used PMM strategies are implemented without sufficient knowledge of their effects .
Introduction We mapped available evidence on  performance measurement and management ( PMM ) strategies in primary healthcare ( PHC ) systems of low-income and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .
Widely used , their effectiveness remains inconclusive .
This evidence gap map characterises existing research and evidence gaps .