Maternal anemia is a potential risk factor for anemia in children aged 6-59 months in Southern Africa: A multilevel analysis
Background: The effect of maternal anemia on childhood hemoglobin status has received little attention. Thus, we examined the potential association between maternal anemia and childhood anemia (aged 6-59 months) from selected Southern Africa countries. Methods: A cross-sectional study using nationally representative samples of children aged 6-59 months from the 2010 Malawi, 2011 Mozambique, 2013 Namibia, […]
Decision-making autonomy in maternal health service use and associated factors among women in Mettu District, Southwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Objectives Women’s autonomy is valued in a range of healthcare settings, from seeking and receiving care to deciding between treatment options. This study aimed to assess the level of decision-making autonomy women have and associated factors when it comes to using maternal healthcare services. Design A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Setting The study was […]
Association between maternal literacy and child vaccination in Ethiopia and southeastern India and the moderating role of health workers: a multilevel regression analysis of the Young Lives study
Background: Child vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries is still far from complete, mainly among marginalized people such as children with illiterate mothers. Objective: This study aims to examine the association between maternal literacy and immunization status of children in Ethiopia and southeastern India (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) and test whether state-run health centers […]
Contribution of portable obstetric ultrasound service innovation in averting maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities at semi-urban health centers of Ethiopia: a retrospective facility-based study
Background: The maternal and neonatal mortalities in Ethiopia are high. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, innovations in ultrasound scanning and surveillance activities have been implemented at health centers for over 2 years. This study aims to estimate the contribution of obstetric ultrasound services on averted maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities in Ethiopia. Methods: […]
Determinants of maternal near miss events among women admitted to tertiary hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia: a facility-based case–control study
Background: A maternal near-miss is a situation in which a woman was on the verge of death but survived a life-threatening obstetric complication that happened during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days after the pregnancy’s termination. Survivors of near-miss events share several features with mothers who have died and identifying determinants of maternal near miss will […]
Father involvement, maternal depression and child nutritional outcomes in Soweto, South Africa
Father involvement in South Africa is low, despite evidence that it can improve maternal and child health and wellbeing. Within a larger randomised controlled trial, we assessed whether father involvement during and after pregnancy increased birth weight and exclusive breastfeeding through improved maternal mental health. At 6-week postnatal, mothers completed questionnaires on birth, feeding practices, […]
Effect of integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific intervention package on maternal malnutrition among pregnant women in Rwanda
Maternal undernutrition remains a major public health concern in Rwanda despite significant gains and progress. An integration of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions was implemented in five districts of Rwanda to improve maternal and child nutrition. The package included nutrition education and counselling, promotion of agricultural productivity, promotion of financial literacy/economic resilience and provision of Water, Hygiene and […]
Health and socio-demographic profile of women of reproductive age in rural communities of southern Mozambique
Reliable statistics on maternal morbidity and mortality are scarce in low and middle-income countries, especially in rural areas. This is the case in Mozambique where many births happen at home. Furthermore, a sizeable number of facility births have inadequate registration. Such information is crucial for developing effective national and global health policies for maternal and […]
Inequities in maternal health services utilization in Ethiopia 2000-2016: Magnitude, trends, and determinants
Background: Inequities in maternal health services utilization constitute a major challenge in maternal mortality reduction in Ethiopia. We sought to assess magnitude, trends, and determinants of inequities in maternal health services utilization in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2016. Methods: The study utilized data from the 2000 and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys, which were […]
‘We saw she was in danger, but couldn’t do anything’: Missed opportunities and health worker disempowerment during birth care in rural Burkina Faso
Background: Facility-based births have been promoted as the main strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal death risks at global scale. To improve birth outcomes, it is critical that health facilities provide quality care. Using a framework to assess quality of care, this paper examines health workers’ perceptions about access to facility birth; the effectiveness of […]
