Effects of multiannual, seasonal unconditional cash transfers on food security and dietary diversity in rural Burkina Faso: The Moderate Acute Malnutrition Out (MAM’Out) cluster-randomized controlled trial
Objective To evaluate the impact of multiannual, seasonal unconditional cash transfers (UCT) provided within the Moderate Acute Malnutrition Out (MAM’Out) research project on households’ food security and children’s and caregivers’ dietary diversity.Design A two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial with sixteen villages in the intervention group and sixteen others in the control group. A monthly allowance of […]
Maternal Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated with Improved Retention of HIV-Exposed Infants in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Background: Programs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission are plagued by loss to follow-up (LTFU) of HIV-exposed infants. We assessed if providing combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to HIV-infected mothers was associated with reduced LTFU of their HIV-exposed infants in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Methods: We constructed a cohort of mother-infant pairs using routinely collected clinical data. Maternal […]
Factors associated with skilled attendance at delivery in Uganda: Results from a national health facility survey
Uganda has high maternal mortality ratio of 435/100,000 live births. In order to address this, Uganda has developed a strategy and has prioritized skilled attendance at delivery as a key intervention. Methods: A survey covering 54 districts and 553 health facilities was conducted to determine availability and access to essential maternity care and health system […]
‘Men are not playing their roles’, maternal and child nutrition in Nanoro, Burkina Faso
Objective: To collect context-specific insights into maternal and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. Design: Eleven focus groups with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local researchers. Setting: The study took place in the Nanoro Health district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso. Participants: […]
Prevalence of maternal near miss and community-based risk factors in Central Uganda
Objective To examine the prevalence of maternal near-miss (MNM) and its associated risk factors in a community setting in Central Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional research design employing multi-stage sampling collected data from women aged 15–49 years in Rakai, Uganda, who had been pregnant in the 3 years preceding the survey, conducted between August 10 and December […]
Co-coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health interventions shows wide inequalities and is associated with child nutritional outcomes in Ethiopia (2005–2019)
The health system is the primary vehicle for the delivery of nutrition-specific interventions that aim to reduce maternal and child malnutrition. The integration of nutrition interventions into existing health interventions is promising, but to ensure that no one is left behind requires that access to essential health services is equitably distributed. This study aims to […]
Barriers to obstetric care among maternal near-misses
Background. There are several factors in the healthcare system that may influence a woman’s ability to access appropriate obstetric care. Objective. To determine the delays/barriers in providing obstetric care to women who classified as a maternal near-miss. Methods. This was a descriptive observational study at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Pretoria, […]
Maternal health and HIV
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is one of the major factors affecting women’s health, with 20 million women living with HIV and more than two million pregnancies in HIV-positive women each year. Most HIV infections in women are in resource-constrained settings where the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality is also unacceptably high, and where most of […]
Maternal deaths in rural Gambia
The objective of this study was to determine causes and contributing factors to maternal deaths in a poor rural setting. We included all maternal deaths (N = 42), identified from January to September 2002, in a remote area of The Gambia. To gain a comprehensive picture of medical causes and contributing factors a combination of […]
Community member and policy maker priorities in improving maternal health in rural Tanzania
Objective: To determine community member and policy maker priorities in improving maternal health in rural Tanzania. Methods: The present participatory action research project was conducted in Rorya District, Mara Region, Tanzania, between November 20 and 25, 2015. A convenience sample of four community and one policy maker discussion groups were held to identify factors impacting […]
