National and regional estimates of term and preterm babies born small for gestational age in 138 low-income and middle-income countries in 2010
Background: National estimates for the numbers of babies born small for gestational age and the comorbidity with preterm birth are unavailable. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of term and preterm babies born small for gestational age (term-SGA and preterm-SGA), and the relation to low birthweight (
Drivers of stunting reduction in Senegal: A country case study
Background: Senegal has been an exemplar country in the West African region, reducing child stunting prevalence by 17.9% from 1992 to 2017. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic in-depth assessment of factors at the national, community, household, and individual levels to determine the key enablers of Senegal’s success in reducing stunting […]
The burden of antenatal heart disease in South Africa: A systematic review
Background: Maternal mortality in South Africa is rising, and heart conditions currently account for 41 per cent of indirect causes of deaths. Little is known about the burden of heart disease in pregnant South Africans.Methods: We systematically reviewed the contemporary epidemiology and peripartum outcomes of heart disease in South African women attending antenatal care. Searches […]
Kinship and similarity drive coordination of breeding-group choice in male spotted hyenas
When and where animals reproduce influences the social, demographic and genetic properties of the groups and populations they live in. We examined the extent to which male spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) coordinate their breeding-group choice. We tested whether their propensity to settle in the same group is shaped by passive processes driven by similarities in […]
Maternal HIV disclosure to HIV-uninfected children in rural South Africa: A pilot study of a family-based intervention
Background: As access to treatment increases, large numbers of HIV-positive parents are raising HIV-negative children. Maternal HIV disclosure has been shown to have benefits for mothers and children, however, disclosure rates remain low with between 30-45% of mothers reporting HIV disclosure to their children in both observational and intervention studies. Disclosure of HIV status by […]
National data system on near miss and maternal death: Shifting from maternal risk to public health impact in Nigeria
Abstract. Background. The lack of reliable and up-to-date statistics on maternal deaths and disabilities remains a major challenge to the implementation of Nigeria’s Road Map to Accelerate the Millennium Development Goal related to Maternal Health (MDG-5). There are currently no functioning national data sources on maternal deaths and disabilities that could serve as reference points […]
Village health worker motivation for better performance in a maternal and child health programme in Nigeria: A realist evaluation
Background: Community health workers play an important role in linking communities with formal health service providers, thereby improving access to and utilization of health care. A novel cadre of community health workers known as village health workers (VHWs) were recruited to create demand for maternal health services in the Nigerian Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P/MCH). In […]
Promising trends and influencing factors of complementary feeding practices in Côte d’Ivoire: An analysis of nationally representative survey data between 1994 and 2016
Poor complementary feeding (CF) challenges early childhood growth. We examined the trends and influencing factors of CF practices among children aged 6–23 months in Côte d’Ivoire. Using data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS, 1994–2011) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS, 2000–2016), the trends and predictors of World Health Organization-United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund CF indicators […]
Regional and residential disparities in knowledge of abortion legality and availability of facility-based abortion services in Ethiopia
Objectives: To generate regional, residential, and nationally representative estimates of knowledge of abortion legality and availability among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia, and examine how knowledge varies across regions and by urban/rural residence. Study Design: Our study draws on data from a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey implemented in 2019 in each of Ethiopia’s regional […]
Delays in cancer care for children in low-income and middle-income countries: development of a composite vulnerability index
Background: Early access to diagnosis and care is essential to improve rates of survival from childhood cancer, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Composite indices are increasingly used to compare country performance in many health fields. We aimed to develop a composite vulnerability index of risk of mortality associated with delays in care for […]
