Individual-level drivers of dietary behaviour in adolescents and women through the reproductive life course in urban Ghana: A Photovoice study
Evidence on the individual-level drivers of dietary behaviours in deprived urban contexts in Africa is limited. Understanding how to best inform the development and delivery of interventions to promote healthy dietary behaviours is needed. As noncommunicable diseases account for over 40% of deaths in Ghana, the country has reached an advanced stage of nutrition transition. […]
A descriptive study of healthcare-providers’ experiences with the use and quality of oxytocin for the prevention of post-partum hemorrhage in Nigeria: A nation-wide survey
Background Oxytocin is recommended as an affordable and effective drug in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage—one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, however, there are concerns about its proper use and quality. This study builds on earlier work conducted in a South-Western state in Nigeria. Objective The […]
Narratives of women presenting with abortion complications in Southwestern Nigeria: A qualitative study
Unsafe abortion continues to impact negatively on women’s health in countries with restrictive abortion laws. It remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. Paradoxically, modern contraceptive prevalence remains low and the unmet need for contraception continues to mirror unwanted pregnancy rates in many countries within sub- Saharan Africa. This qualitative study […]
Promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding in neonatal care units in rural Rwanda: a pre- and post-intervention study
Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding after birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months improves child survival, nutrition and health outcomes. However, only 42% of newborns worldwide are breastfed within the first hour of life. Small and sick newborns are at greater risk of not receiving breastmilk and often require additional support for feeding. […]
Opening the ‘implementation black-box’ of the user fee exemption policy for caesarean section in Benin: A realist evaluation
To improve access to maternal health services, Benin introduced in 2009 a user fee exemption policy for caesarean sections. Similar to other low- and middle-income countries, its implementation showed mixed results. Our study aimed at understanding why and in which circumstances the implementation of this policy in hospitals succeeded or failed. We adopted the realist […]
Prevalence and determinants of gestational weight gain among pregnant women in Niger
Low gestational weight gain (GWG) and low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of low GWG and low MUAC among pregnant women in rural Zinder, Niger. A community-based survey was conducted among 1,384 pregnant women in the catchment areas of 18 integrated health […]
Taking stock: Protocol for evaluating a family planning supply chain intervention in Senegal
Background: In Senegal, only 12 % of women of reproductive age in union (WRAU) were using contraceptives and another 29 % had an unmet need for contraceptives in 2010-11. One potential barrier to accessing contraceptives is the lack of stock availability in health facilities where women seek them. Multiple supply chain interventions have been piloted […]
How has sustainable development goals declaration influenced health financing reforms for universal health coverage at the country level? A scoping review of literature
Background: Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires health financing reforms (HFR) in many of the countries. HFR are inherently political. The sustainable development goals (SDG) declaration provides a global political commitment context that can influence HFR for UHC at national level. However, how the declaration has influenced HFR discourse at the national level and how […]
Prevalence of anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS) among the parents of babies admitted to neonatal units: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Parents of babies admitted to neonatal units (NNU) are exposed to a range of potentially distressing experiences, which can lead to mental health symptoms such as increased anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS). This review aimed to describe how anxiety and PTS are defined and assessed, and to estimate anxiety and PTS prevalence among parents […]
Stakeholder perceptions and context of the implementation of performance-based financing in district hospitals in Mali
Background: To improve the performance of the healthcare system, Mali’s government implemented a pilot project of performance-based financing (PBF) in the field of reproductive health. It was established in the Koulikoro region. This research analyses the process of implementing PBF at district hospital (DH) level, something which has rarely been done in Africa. Methods: This […]
