Pastoralism and antenatal care service utilization in Dubti District, Afar, Ethiopia, 2015: A cross-sectional study
Health service utilization among pastoralists in Ethiopia is not well documented. Available data are very few and institution-based. Health services are particularly inadequate and poorly equipped, being scarce, inaccessible, and inappropriate to the pastoralist way of life. Effective antenatal care (ANC) use has been shown to influence women’s use of maternal health services, probably the […]
Viability of an urban maternity waiting home in Kumasi, Ghana: A qualitative needs assessment
Background: Maternity waiting homes, usually located in rural, low-resource settings, may increase access to skilled care during delivery and ultimately improve maternal-newborn outcomes. Although there are studies exploring maternity waiting homes in rural settings, little is known about interest in and viability of maternity waiting home use in urban environments. Objective: The purpose of this […]
The HIV epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic: A double tragedy for sub-Saharan African women
After four decades of the HIV epidemic, women from sub-Saharan Africa remain at a differentially high risk of acquisition. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) statistics show that the majority of HIV infections occur in this population and region. Evidence from previous humanitarian crises demonstrated adverse maternal consequences as a result […]
Caregiver experiences and healthcare worker perspectives of accessing healthcare for low-birthweight
Background: Low-birthweight (LBW) infants (
Factors associated with the knowledge of obstetric danger signs, and perceptions of the need for obstetric care amongst married young women in northern Nigeria
Background: Married adolescents contribute to poor maternal health indicators in many lowand middle-income countries, where restrictive social norms hinder access to, and utilisation of maternal health services. Addressing these barriers is key to improving health outcomes of young mothers and their children. Aim: This study assessed married young women’s knowledge of obstetric danger signs and […]
Safer obstetric anesthesia through education and mentorship: a model for knowledge translation in Rwanda
High rates of maternal mortality remain a widespread problem in the developing world. Skilled anesthesia providers are required for the safe conduct of Cesarean delivery and resuscitation during obstetrical crises. Few anesthesia providers in low-resource settings have access to continuing education. In Rwanda, anesthesia technicians with only three years of post-secondary training must manage complex […]
Maternal near miss and mortality in a rural referral hospital in northern Tanzania: A cross-sectional study
Background: Maternal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa remains high despite global efforts to reduce it. In order to lower maternal morbidity and mortality in the immediate term, reduction of delay in the provision of quality obstetric care is of prime importance. The aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of severe maternal […]
Point-of-care CD4 testing to inform selection of antiretroviral medications in South African antenatal clinics: A cost-effectiveness analysis
Background Many prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programs currently prioritize antiretroviral therapy (ART) for women with advanced HIV. Point-of-care (POC) CD4 assays may expedite the selection of three-drug ART instead of zidovudine, but are costlier than traditional laboratory assays. Methods We used validated models of HIV infection to simulate pregnant, HIV-infected women (mean age […]
Predictors of skilled birth attendance among married women in Cameroon: further analysis of 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey
Background: In Cameroon, maternal deaths remain high. The high maternal deaths in the country have been attributed to the low utilization of maternal healthcare services, including skilled birth attendance. This study examined the predictors of skilled birth services utilization among married women in Cameroon. Methods: Data from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey was analyzed […]
Rural–urban differences in the use of postnatal care services Malawi
Background: In Malawi, women’s postpartum care services often remain underutilized despite the efforts of the government to promote the use of maternal healthcare. Consequently, maternal mortality and morbidity are persistently high. Aim: The aim of the study is to examine the factors associated with women’s use of postpartum care services in urban areas as compared […]
