Seeking evidence to support efforts to increase use of antenatal care: A cross-sectional study in two states of Nigeria
Background: Antenatal care (ANC) attendance is a strong predictor of maternal outcomes. In Nigeria, government health planners at state level and below have limited access to population-based estimates of ANC coverage and factors associated with its use. A mixed methods study examined factors associated with the use of government ANC services in two states of […]
The efficacy of maternal health education and maternal screening on knowledge and the uptake of infant screening for sickle cell disease in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; a quasi experimental study
Background: Globally, Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic disease with high childhood mortality. Early identification of babies with SCD through newborn screening (NBS) and linking them to care are among the recommended interventions. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of maternal health education and maternal screening […]
Exposure to oil pollution and maternal outcomes: The Niger Delta prospective cohort study
Background Maternal exposure to oil pollution is an important public health concern. However, there is a dearth of literature on the effects of maternal exposure to oil pollution on maternal outcomes in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This study was therefore designed to determine the effect of maternal exposure to oil pollution on maternal […]
Scaling up misoprostol to prevent postpartum hemorrhage at home births in Mozambique: A case study applying the ExpandNet/WHO framework
Background: Mozambique has a high maternal mortality ratio, and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal deaths. In 2015, the Mozambican Ministry of Health (MOH) commenced a program to distribute misoprostol at the community level in selected districts as a strategy to reduce PPH. This case study uses the ExpandNet/World Health Organization (WHO) […]
Traditional herbal remedies used by women in a rural community in northern Maputaland (South Africa) for the treatment of gynaecology and obstetric complaints
According to the World Health Organization, there are annually 350,000 maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, with obstetric haemorrhage the most common cause of death. Although maternal mortality can be reduced by health-care interventions such as the provision of family planning, maternity care and access to safe abortion practice, it is not happening in rural areas. […]
Intentions on contraception use and its associated factors among postpartum women in Aksum town, Tigray region, northern Ethiopia: A community-based cross- sectional study
Background: Increased access to contraceptive methods has been established as a cost-effective strategy for developing countries to reduce maternal and child mortality. Intentions to contraceptive uptake appear to be best predictors of actual contraceptive practice than the unmet need. However, intention to contraceptive use in Ethiopia particularly among postpartum women is not well assessed. Therefore, […]
Magnitude and trends in socio-economic and geographic inequality in access to birth by cesarean section in Tanzania: evidence from five rounds of Tanzania demographic and health surveys (1996-2015)
Background: Majority of maternal deaths are avoidable through quality obstetric care such as Cesarean Section (CS). However, in low-and middle-income countries, many women are still dying due to lack of obstetric services. Tanzania is one of the African countries where maternal mortality is high. However, there is paucity of evidence related to the magnitude and […]
Pregnant women’s access to PMTCT and ART services in South Africa and implications for universal antiretroviral treatment
Objectives: We describe pregnant womens’ access to PMTCT and HAART services and associated birth outcomes in South Africa. Methods: Women recuperating in postnatal wards of a referral hospital participated in an evaluation during February-May 2010 during which their maternity records were examined to describe their access to VCT, CD4 Counts, dual ART or HAART during […]
Impact of universal home visits on maternal and infant outcomes in Bauchi state, Nigeria: Protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial
Background: Maternal mortality in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. Access to antenatal care is limited and the quality of services is poor in much of the country. Previous research in Bauchi State found associations between maternal morbidity and domestic violence, heavy work in pregnancy, lack of knowledge about danger signs, and […]
Examining access to sexual and reproductive health services and information for young women with disabilities in Senegal: a qualitative study
This qualitative research aimed to examine Senegalese disabled women’s access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and information. Poor access to SRH services and information can lead to a range of negative consequences, including poor sexual, reproductive, and maternal health outcomes; rights violations; and impacts on mental health and livelihoods. Disabled women, who are […]