Inequalities in adherence to the continuum of maternal and child health service utilization in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis
Background: Despite progress made to improve access to child health services, mothers’ consistent utilization of these services has been constrained by several factors. This study is aimed at assessing the inequalities in key child health service utilization and assess the role of antenatal care (ANC) on subsequent service use. Method: The analysis of the present […]
Seasonality of antenatal care attendance, maternal dietary intake, and fetal growth in the VHEMBE birth cohort, South Africa
Background Seasonality of food availability, physical activity, and infections commonly occurs within rural communities in low and middle-income countries with distinct rainy seasons. To better understand the implications of these regularly occurring environmental stressors for maternal and child health, this study examined seasonal variation in nutrition and health care access of pregnant women and infants […]
On measuring and decomposing inequality of opportunity in access to health services among Tunisian children: A new approach for public policy
Background: The early years in children’s life are the key to physical, cognitive-language, and, socio-emotional skills development. So, it is of paramount importance in this period to be interested in different indicators that would influence the child’s health. Methods: This paper measures inequality of opportunities among Tunisian children concerning access to nutritional and healthy services […]
Management of post abortion complications in Botswana -The need for a standardized approach
Background Post abortion complications are the third leading cause of maternal death after hemorrhage and hypertension in Botswana where abortion is not legalized. This study aimed at assessing the management of post abortion complications in Botswana. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at four hospitals in Botswana in 2014. Socio-demo-graphic, patient management and outcomes data […]
Effects of Mobile Health Technologies on Uptake of Routine Growth Monitoring among Caregivers of Children Aged 9 to 18 Months in Kenya
This study aimed at finding out the effects of mobile health (mhealth) technologies on uptake of Routine Growth Monitoring (RGM) among caregivers of children aged above 9 months in Kenya. This was a quasi-experimental study. The experiment groups received Short Text Message (STM) and Voice Call (VC). The analysis demonstrates that in month 1, caregivers […]
Healthcare access and quality of birth care: Narratives of women living with obstetric fistula in rural Tanzania
Background: Increasing births with skilled attendants and increasing health facilities with Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) can reduce maternal mortality and are considered critical interventions for ensuring safe motherhood. Despite Tanzania’s policy to support women to give birth with the assistance of skilled personnel, some women do not access this care. This article uses women’s stories […]
The impact of i-PUSH on maternal and child health care utilization, health outcomes, and financial protection: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial based on financial and health diaries data
Background: Universal Health Coverage ensures access to quality health services for all, with no financial hardship when accessing the needed services. Nevertheless, access to quality health services is marred by substantial resource shortages creating service delivery gaps in low-and middle-income countries, including Kenya. The Innovative Partnership for Universal Sustainable Healthcare (i-PUSH) program, developed by AMREF […]
The NSPCC UK Minding the Baby® (MTB) home-visiting programme, supporting young mothers (aged 14-25) in the first 2 years of their baby’s life: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Background: Young mothers living in low-income urban settings often are exposed to significant and chronic environmental difficulties including poverty, social isolation and poor education and typically also have to cope with personal histories of abuse and depression. Minding the Baby® (MTB) is an interdisciplinary home-visiting programme developed to support first-time young mothers, which integrates primary […]
Efficacy, duration of protection, birth outcomes, and infant growth associated with influenza vaccination in pregnancy: a pooled analysis of three randomised controlled trials
Background: Maternal influenza immunisation can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with influenza infection in pregnant women and young infants. We aimed to determine the vaccine efficacy of maternal influenza immunisation against maternal and infant PCR-confirmed influenza, duration of protection, and the effect of gestational age at vaccination on vaccine efficacy, birth outcomes, and infant growth […]
The effect of supervision on community health workers’ effectiveness with households in rural South Africa: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Background Community health workers (CHWs) can supplement professional medical providers, especially in rural settings where resources are particularly scarce. Yet, outcomes of studies evaluating CHWs effectiveness have been highly variable and lack impact when scaled nationally. This study examines if child and maternal outcomes are better when existing government CHWs, who are perinatal home visitors, […]
