The proposed need for integrated maternal and child oral health policy: A case of South Africa
The high oral disease burden among children in South Africa, specifically early childhood caries, has received scant attention despite the fact that it is a public health concern that negatively impacts the overall well-being and quality of life of the child. While South Africa has a number of well documented policies that focus on oral […]
Prevention of hepatitis B mother-to-child transmission in Namibia: A cost-effectiveness analysis
Despite access to a safe and effective vaccine, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) persists in Africa. This is of concern since perinatally-infected infants are at highest risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, a life-threatening consequence of chronic HBV infection. While tools to prevent HBV MTCT are available, the cost implications of these interventions […]
Inequities in child survival in Nigerian communities during the Sustainable Development Goal era: insights from analysis of 2016/2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
Background: Child survival is a major concern in Nigeria, as it contributes 13% of the global under-five mortalities. Although studies have examined the determinants of under-five mortality in Nigeria, the comparative roles of social determinants of health at the different stages of early childhood development have not been concurrently investigated. This study, therefore, aimed to […]
Stories of Change in Nutrition in Ghana: a focus on stunting and anemia among children under-five years (2009 – 2018)
The current study aimed to understand why child stunting and anemia (CS&A) rates declined in Ghana between 2009 and 2018, and which priority policies and programs will further improve nutrition outcomes. Trends and potential drivers of stunting (height-for-age z-score < -2.0 SD) and anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL), and decomposition analysis of DHS data (2003 to […]
Global infant mortality trends and attributable determinants – an ecological study using data from 192 countries for the period 1990-2011
Background: Infant mortality rate (IMR) is regarded as an important indicator of population health. IMR rates vary substantially with the highest found in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared to the lowest in Europe. Identifying spatial disparities in IMR and quantifying attributable risk factors is essential for policymakers when tailoring time-appropriate interventions at a global, regional, and […]
Social and cultural barriers to husbands’ involvement in maternal health in rural Gambia
Introduction: While many studies have documented a number of socio-cultural barriers to male involvement in maternal health, in The Gambia very little information is known about the social and cultural practices that characterized male involvement in maternal health. This study aims to explore some of the underlying social and cultural factors affecting husbands’ involvement in […]
Determinants of maternal high-risk fertility behaviors and its correlation with child stunting and anemia in the East Africa region: A pooled analysis of nine East African countries
Background In low-income nations, high-risk fertility behavior is a prevalent public health concern that can be ascribed to unmet family planning needs, child marriage, and a weak health system. As a result, this study aimed to determine the factors that influence high-risk fertility behavior and its impact on child stunting and anemia. Method This study […]
Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among under-five children in Egypt
Background: Evidence suggests that Egypt, a country in North Africa, has a significant number of children at serious risk of excess body weight. Yet, there is a dearth of studies on overweight and obesity among children under 5 years in the country. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among under-five […]
Decomposition and Spatio-temporal analysis of health care access challenges among reproductive age women in Ethiopia, 2005-2016
Background: The high maternal mortality, home delivery, unwanted pregnancies, incidence of unsafe abortion, and unmeet family planning needs are maternal health gaps attributed to health care access barriers and responsible for the observed health care disparities. Over the last decades remarkable achievements have made in relation to maternal health problems and the reduction of health […]
The FIGO Save the Mothers Initiative: The Ethiopia-Sweden collaboration
The overall goal of the FIGO Save the Mothers Fund was to establish basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care (EmOC) with the specific objectives of increasing the availability and utilization of quality obstetric care as measured by the UN indicators. As a result of this commitment by FIGO, the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists […]
