The MONARCH intervention to enhance the quality of antenatal and postnatal primary health services in rural South Africa: Protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial
Background: Gaps in maternal and child health services can slow progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Management and Optimization of Nutrition, Antenatal, Reproductive, Child Health & HIV Care (MONARCH) study will evaluate a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) intervention targeted at improving antenatal and postnatal health service outcomes in rural South Africa where HIV […]
Role of social support in improving infant feeding practices in Western Kenya: A quasi-experimental study
Background: We designed and tested an intervention that used dialogue-based groups to engage infants’ fathers and grandmothers to support optimal infant feeding practices. The study’s aim was to test the effectiveness of increased social support by key household influencers on improving mothers’ complementary feeding practices. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, we enrolled mothers, fathers, and […]
Investigating health impacts of natural resource extraction projects in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique, and Tanzania: Protocol for a mixed methods study
Background: Natural resource extraction projects offer both opportunities and risks for sustainable development and health in host communities. Often, however, the health of the community suffers. Health impact assessment (HIA) can mitigate the risks and promote the benefits of development but is not routinely done in the developing regions that could benefit the most. Objective: […]
Geo-spatial factors associated with infection risk among young children in rural Ghana: A secondary spatial analysis
Background: Determining the spatial patterns of infection among young children living in a malaria-endemic area may provide a means of locating high-risk populations who could benefit from additional resources for treatment and improved access to healthcare. The objective of this secondary analysis of baseline data from a cluster-randomized trial among 1943 young Ghanaian children (6-35 […]
Seasonality and predictors of childhood stunting and wasting in drought-prone areas in Ethiopia: a cohort study
Background and objectives Over centuries, Ethiopia has experienced severe famines and periods of serious drought, and malnutrition remains a major public health problem. The aims of this study were to estimate seasonal variations in child stunting and wasting, and identify factors associated with both forms of child malnutrition in drought-prone areas. Methods This cohort study […]
Broadening understanding of accountability ecosystems in sexual and reproductive health and rights: A systematic review
Background Accountability for ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights is increasingly receiving global attention. Less attention has been paid to accountability mechanisms for sexual and reproductive health and rights at national and sub-national level, the focus of this systematic review. Methods We searched for peer-reviewed literature using accountability, sexual and reproductive health, human rights […]
Practice and Intention to use long acting and permanent contraceptive methods among married women in Ethiopia: Systematic meta-analysis
Background: The long acting and permanent contraceptive methods (LAPCMs) has not used unlike that of short-acting methods in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Sub Saharan Africa with a high total fertility rate, and high maternal and child mortality rates. This study summarized the evidence of practice and intention to use long […]
A Retrospective Review of Decision to Delivery Time Interval for Foetal Distress at a Central Hospital
Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the trajectory of emergency caesarean deliveries for foetal distress at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). Patients and Methods: A retrospective, contextual, descriptive study, using consecutive convenience sampling was done reviewing all the records of emergency caesarean deliveries for foetal distress at CHBAH in February 2019 […]
Scaling up antiretroviral therapy in Uganda: Using supply chain management to appraise health systems strengthening
Background: Strengthened national health systems are necessary for effective and sustained expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART and its supply chain management in Uganda are largely based on parallel and externally supported efforts. The question arises whether systems are being strengthened to sustain access to ART. This study applies systems thinking to assess supply chain […]
The use of manual vacuum aspiration in the treatment of incomplete abortions: A descriptive study from three public hospitals in Malawi
Malawi has a high maternal mortality rate, of which unsafe abortion is a major cause. About 140,000 induced abortions are estimated every year, despite there being a restrictive abortion law in place. This leads to complications, such as incomplete abortions, which need to be treated to avoid further harm. Although manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) is […]
