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The relation between spirituality and health has been argued for decades. The study aimed to ascertain the extent and nature of the relationship between spirituality quantified in terms of Spiritual Intelligence (SI) and distress in ascetics. Sixty-three Hindu ascetics aged 31.3 ± 6.6 years were sampled from Patanjali Yogpeeth, India. Participants’ distress and spiritual levels were measured by using the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaires (CMHIQs) and Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory-24 (SISRI-24), respectively. Multiple regression analyses showed an insignificant negative relationship between SI and distress implying SI as a predictor of psychosomatic health.

The Care Around Birth approach provides an integrated implementation framework to improve the quality, equity, and dignity of care during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods, thereby addressing key drivers of maternal and newborn mortality., Key Findings Adopting an integrated implementation framework that combined training, mentoring, and quality improvement processes to improve the quality, equity, and dignity of care during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods, the Care Around Birth approach addressed key drivers of maternal and newborn mortality.The approach refocused energy on facility-based quality processes that are currently central to efforts in reducing mortality and achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets. Key Implications Integrated implementation frameworks need to be aligned to the resources available and tailored to the ecosystem in which health programs operate.Facility-level ownership and accountability by optimizing the engagement of health staff remain the fulcrum for any improvement effort. This however needs to be adequately supported by district and state-level health systems., Background: With the highest risk of maternal and newborn mortality occurring during the period around birth, quality of care during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods is critical for maternal and neonatal survival. Methods: The United States Agency for International Development’s Scaling Up Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health Interventions project, also known as the Vriddhi project, collaborated with the national and 6 state governments to design and implement the Care Around Birth approach in 141 high caseload facilities across 26 high-priority districts of India from January 2016 to December 2017. The approach aimed to synergize evidence-based technical interventions with quality improvement (QI) processes, respectful maternity care, and health system strengthening efforts. The approach was designed using experiential training, mentoring, and a QI model. A baseline assessment measured the care ecosystem, staff competencies, and labor room practices. At endline, the approach was externally evaluated. Results: Availability of logistics, recording and reporting formats, and display of protocols improved across the intervention facilities. At endline (October–December 2017), delivery and newborn trays were available in 98% of facilities compared to 66% and 55% during baseline (October–December 2015), respectively. Competency scores (> 80%) for essential newborn care and newborn resuscitation improved from 7% to 70% and from 5% to 82% among health care providers, respectively. The use of partograph in monitoring labor improved from 29% at the baseline to 61%; administration of oxytocin within 1 minute of delivery from 35% to 93%; newborns successfully resuscitated from 71% to 96%; and postnatal monitoring of mothers from 52% to 94%. Conclusion: The approach successfully demonstrated an operational design to improve the provision and experience of care during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods, thereby augmenting efforts aimed at ending preventable child and maternal deaths.