Pregnant women’s intentions to deliver at a health facility in the pastoralist communities of afar, ethiopia: An application of the health belief model
Despite the significant benefits of giving birth at a health facility to improve maternal and child health, the practice remains lower than expected in pastoralist communities of Ethiopia. Understanding the intentions of pregnant women to use health facilities for delivery predicts the adoption of the behavior, yet documented evidence of intention in the context of […]
Health worker and policy-maker perspectives on use of intramuscular artesunate for pre-referral and definitive treatment of severe malaria at health posts in Ethiopia
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends injectable artesunate given either intravenously or by the intramuscular route for definitive treatment for severe malaria and recommends a single intramuscular dose of intramuscular artesunate or intramuscular artemether or intramuscular quinine, in that order of preference as pre-referral treatment when definitive treatment is not possible. Where intramuscular injections […]
Geopolitical zones differentials in intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) utilization in Nigeria
Background The coverage of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) uptake for the prevention of malaria commonly vary by geography. Many sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, including Nigeria are adopting the use of LLIN and IPTp to fight malaria. Albeit, the coverage of these interventions to prevent malaria […]
Determinants of use of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: Jinja, Uganda
Background: Maternal malaria is associated with serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. One recommended means of preventing malaria during pregnancy is intermittent preventive therapy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP). We sought to identify determinants of preventive use of SP during pregnancy among recently pregnant women in Uganda. Additionally, we characterized the timing of and indications for the administration […]
Globalisation and transitions in abortion care in Ghana
Background: Access to safe abortion is a globally contested policy and social justice issue – contested because of its religious and moral dimensions regarding the right to life and personhood of a foetus vs. the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies. Many nations have agreed to address the health consequences of […]
Health-seeking behaviour of Ethiopian caregivers when infants are unwell: a descriptive qualitative study
OBJECTIVES: To explore the health-seeking behaviour of Ethiopian caregivers when infants are unwell. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data were collected using semistructured interview guides. SETTING: The study was conducted in East Gojjam zone, Amhara region, northwest Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were selected using a maximum variation […]
The multi-country promote HIV antiretroviral treatment observational cohort in sub-Saharan Africa: Objectives, design, and baseline findings
Background The PROMOTE study aims to measure long-term antiretroviral treatment (ART) safety and adherence; compare HIV disease progression; assess subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes; evaluate effect of ART exposure on growth and development in HIV-exposed uninfected children; and assess long-term survival of mothers and children. This report primarily describes cohort characteristics at baseline to better understand […]
The effects of maternity waiting homes on the health workforce and maternal health service delivery in rural Zambia: A qualitative analysis
Background: Maternity waiting homes (MWHs) are a potential strategy to address low facility delivery rates resulting from access-associated barriers in resource-limited settings. Within a cluster-randomized controlled trial testing a community-generated MWH model in rural Zambia, we qualitatively assessed how MWHs affect the health workforce and maternal health service delivery at their associated rural health centers. […]
Using Participatory Workshops to Assess Alignment or Tension in the Community for Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling Prior to Start of Child Mortality Surveillance: Lessons from 5 Sites across the CHAMPS Network
The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) program is a 7-country network (as of December 2018) established by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to identify the causes of death in children in communities with high rates of under-5 mortality. The program carries out both mortality and pregnancy surveillance, and mortality surveillance employs minimally […]
Factors associated with overweight or obesity among post-partum women in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Ghana: a cross-sectional study
Introduction: adult overweight and obesity are public health challenges that are presently overwhelming health systems. Mothers are at an increased risk of overweight and obesity and its accompanying morbidities, especially after several deliveries; however, there is a paucity of data on the factors influencing this. As such, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and […]
