Dynamics and constraints of early infant diagnosis of HIV infection in rural Kenya
A cohort design was used to determine uptake and drop out of 213 HIV-exposed infants eligible for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV. To explore service providers and care givers knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of the EID process, observations and in-depth interviews were conducted. 145 (68%) infants enrolled after 2 months of age. 139 (65%) […]
Wealth status, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and Ante Natal Care (ANC) are determinants for low birth weight in Kersa, Ethiopia
Background: Low Birth Weight (LBW) is one of the major risk factor for death in early life. However, little is known about predictors of LBW in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure the incidence and determinants of LBW in a rural population of Ethiopia. Methods: An observational cohort study on […]
Maternal tobacco and alcohol use in relation to child malnutrition in gauteng, south africa: A retrospective analysis
Tobacco and alcohol use among mothers is associated with numerous adverse consequences for affected offspring, including poor growth and development. This study determined the association between maternal tobacco and alcohol use, and malnutrition, among infants aged ≤ 12 months (n = 300), in selected health facilities situated in Gauteng, South Africa. Data on alcohol and […]
Geospatial analysis of determinants of neonatal mortality in Ghana
Background: Ghana did not meet the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality by two-thirds and may not meet SDG (2030). There is a need to direct scarce resources to mitigate the impact of the most important risk factors influencing high neonatal deaths. This study applied both spatial and non-spatial regression models to explore […]
Association between wash-related behaviors and knowledge with childhood diarrhea in Tanzania
Background: Diarrhea remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in Tanzania. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between diarrheal disease and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related behaviors and determine care-seeking predictors for diarrheal disease. Methods: Data from 9996 female primary caregivers were collected as part of a larger […]
Maternal near-miss surveillance, Namibia
Objective To analyse and improve the Namibian maternity care system by implementing maternal near-miss surveillance during 1 October 2018 and 31 March 2019, and identifying the challenges and benefits of such data collection. Methods From the results of an initial feasibility study, we adapted the World Health Organization’s criteria defining a maternal near miss to […]
Patients’ perspectives of acceptability of ART, TB and maternal health services in a subdistrict of Johannesburg, South Africa
Background: The field of acceptability of health services is emerging and growing in coherence. But there are gaps, including relatively little integration of elements of acceptability. This study attempted to analyse collectively three elements of acceptability namely: patient-provider, patient-service organisation and patient-community interactions. Methods: Mixed methods were used to analyse secondary data collected as part […]
HIV-exposed but uninfected children: Why are they vulnerable?
Globally, approximately 2.8 million children per year are born to HIV-infected women. Improved access to antiretrovirals for both prevention of mother-to-child transmission and maternal treatment results in increasing numbers of HIV-uninfected children living with their HIV-infected mothers. There is increasing evidence for poorer health in these children due to the direct effect of HIV itself […]
Barriers and enablers to young people accessing sexual and reproductive health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A scoping review
Background The number of young people utilising sexual and reproductive health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories remains poor despite the availability and the existence of the fundamental rights to access these services. Adolescents and youth need accurate information and timely access to contraceptives to prevent adverse consequences associated with unintended pregnancies, abortion, childbirth […]
Improving maternal care through a state-wide health insurance program: A cost and cost-effectiveness study in rural Nigeria
Background While the Nigerian government has made progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, further investments are needed to achieve the targets of post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, including Universal Health Coverage. Economic evaluations of innovative interventions can help inform investment decisions in resource-constrained settings. We aim to assess the cost and cost-effectiveness of maternal care provided […]
