Where have all the children gone? High HIV prevalence in infants attending nutrition and inpatient entry points:
Introduction: Despite notable progress towards PMTCT, only 50% of HIV-exposed infants in sub-Saharan Africa were tested within the first 2 months of life and only 30% of HIV-infected infants are on antiretroviral treatment. This study assessed HIV prevalence in infants and children receiving care at various service entry points in primary healthcare facilities in Uganda. […]
The effect of HIV infection on the risk, frequency, and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia in primigravid and multigravid women in Malawi
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is common in pregnant women in many malaria-endemic regions and may increase risk of placental parasitemia. Placental malaria is more common in primigravidae than multigravidae, but the relationship between HIV and malaria across gravidities is not well characterized. We recruited pregnant Malawian women during the second trimester and followed them until […]
The economic toll of COVID-19: A cohort study of prevalence and economic factors associated with postpartum depression in Kenya
Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) among women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to women who delivered before the COVID-19 pandemic and how economic challenges are associated with PPD. Methods: Data were collected from 2332 women. This includes 1197 women from healthcare facilities in […]
“Why not bathe the baby today?”: A qualitative study of thermal care beliefs and practices in four African sites
Background: Recommendations for care in the first week of a newborn’s life include thermal care practices such as drying and wrapping, skin to skin contact, immediate breastfeeding and delayed bathing. This paper examines beliefs and practices related to neonatal thermal care in three African countries. Methods: Data were collected in the same way in each […]
Actions and Adaptations Implemented for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Service Provision During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria: Qualitative Study of Health Facility Leaders
Background: The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in provision of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with fragile health systems, such as Nigeria. Measures taken to ‘flatten the curve’ such as lockdowns, curfews, travel restrictions, and suspension of public services inadvertently led […]
Factors associated with changes in adequate antenatal care visits among pregnant women aged 15-49 years in Tanzania from 2004 to 2016
Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is crucial for the health of the mother and unborn child as it delivers highly effective health interventions that can prevent maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a minimum of four ANC visits for a pregnant woman with a positive pregnancy during the […]
Sub-optimal delivery of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria: Influence of provider factors
Background: The level of access to intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) in Nigeria is still low despite relatively high antenatal care coverage in the study area. This paper presents information on provider factors that affect the delivery of IPTp in Nigeria. Methods. Data were collected from heads of maternal health units of […]
Existence and functionality of emergency obstetric care services at district level in Kenya: Theoretical coverage versus reality
Background: The knowledge on emergency obstetric care (EmOC) is limited in Kenya, where only partial data from sub-national studies exist. The EmOC process indicators have also not been integrated into routine health management information system to monitor progress in safe motherhood interventions both at national and lower levels of the health system. In a country […]
Prenatal anemia control and anemia in children aged 6–23 months in sub-Saharan Africa
It is unclear whether routine prenatal anemia control interventions can reduce anemia risk in young children. This study examines the associations between prenatal iron supplementation and/or deworming and anemia in children aged 6–23 months in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We analyzed data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2014 in 25 SSA countries. The […]
Use of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic in urban Ethiopia: evidence from retrospective health facility survey data
Objectives In recent years, Ethiopia has made enormous strides in enhancing access to healthcare, especially, maternal and child healthcare. With the onset and spread of COVID-19, the attention of the healthcare system has pivoted to handling the disease, potentially at the cost of other healthcare needs. This paper explores whether this shift has come at […]
