The Epidemiology of Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Bihar State, India
Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infect over a billion individuals worldwide. In India, 241 million children are estimated to need deworming to avert the negative consequences STH infections can have on child health and development. In February-April 2011, 17 million children in Bihar State were dewormed during a government-led school-based deworming campaign. Prior to programme implementation, a […]
Missed opportunities in antenatal care for improving the health of pregnant women and newborns in Geita district, Northwest Tanzania
Background: Despite the significant benefits of early detection and management of pregnancy related complications during antenatal care (ANC) visits, not all pregnant women in Tanzania initiate ANC in a timely manner. The primary objectives of this research study in rural communities of Geita district, Northwest Tanzania were: 1) to conduct a population-based study that examined […]
Vitamin D Concentrations in Infancy and the Risk of Tuberculosis Disease in Childhood: A Prospective Birth Cohort in Cape Town, South Africa
Background: Low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of tuberculosis disease; however, previous observational cohort studies showed variable results. We investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels in infancy and subsequent development of tuberculosis disease throughout childhood. Methods: We enrolled pregnant women at 20-28 weeks’ gestation attending antenatal care in a periurban South African […]
Predictors of neonatal mortality in Assosa zone, Western Ethiopia: A matched case control study
Background: Benshangul Gumuze region is one of the regional states in Ethiopia, with highest rate of neonatal mortality rate. The trend increased at alarming rate from 42/1000 live birth in 2005 to 62/ 1000 live birth in 2011. Hence, identifying predictors of neonatal death and implement evidence based interventions at community level is crucial to […]
Improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes through a community-based women’s health education program: A cluster randomised controlled trial in western Kenya
Introduction Community-based women’s health education groups may improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH); however, evidence from sub-Saharan Africa is lacking. Chamas for Change (Chamas) is a community health volunteer (CHV)-led, group-based health education programme for pregnant and postpartum women in western Kenya. We evaluated Chamas’ effect on facility-based deliveries and other MNCH outcomes. Methods […]
Acceptability and Potential Effectiveness of eHealth Tools for Training Primary Health Workers from Nigeria at Scale: Mixed Methods, Uncontrolled Before-and-After Study
Background: The in-service training of frontline health workers (FHWs) in primary health care facilities plays an important role in improving the standard of health care delivery. However, it is often expensive and requires FHWs to leave their posts in rural areas to attend courses in urban centers. This study reports the implementation of a digital […]
Abortion in Zimbabwe: A national study of the incidence of induced abortion, unintended pregnancy and post-abortion care in 2016
Background: Zimbabwe has the highest contraceptive prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa, but also one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. Little is known, however, about the incidence of abortion and post-abortion care (PAC) in Zimbabwe. Access to legal abortion is rare, and limited to circumstances of rape, incest, fetal impairment, or to […]
Predictors of chronic food insecurity among adolescents in Southwest Ethiopia: A longitudinal study
Background: Evidence on the differential impacts of the global food crisis as it translates into chronic food insecurity locally is essential to design food security interventions targeting the most vulnerable population groups. There are no studies on the extent of chronic food insecurity or its predictors among adolescents in developing countries. In the context of […]
Use of mobile phones and text messaging to decrease the turnaround time for early infant HIV diagnosis and notification in rural Zambia: An observational study
Background: Early infant diagnosis of HIV infection is challenging in rural sub-Saharan Africa as blood samples are sent to central laboratories for HIV DNA testing, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. Simple technologies to rapidly deliver results to clinics and notify mothers of test results would decrease many of these delays. The feasibility […]
‘We are the advocates for the babies’ – understanding interactions between patients and health care providers during the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in South Africa: a qualitative study
Background: HIV/AIDS has had a significant impact on maternal and child health in South Africa. It is thus of vital importance to implement interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) as early as possible during pregnancy. Negative interactions between patients and health care providers (HCPs) can be an important barrier to antenatal care, PMTCT […]
