Moderate and severe household food insecurity predicts stunting and severe stunting among Rwanda children aged 6–59 months residing in Gicumbi district
Household food insecurity (HFI) plays an important role in child malnutrition in many low-income countries. We determined the association between HFI and stunting and severe stunting among Rwandan children from the Gicumbi district, aged 6–59 months using a cross-sectional study of 2,222 children. HFI factor was calculated by summing all seven HFI (access) frequency questions and […]
The role and attributes of social networks in the provision of support to women after stillbirth: experiences from Uganda
Introduction: Communities exert stigma on mothers after stillbirth despite their potential to offer social support to the grieving family. Maternal healthcare-seeking behaviors are socially reinforced rendering a social network approach vital in understanding support dynamics which when utilized can improve community response to mothers experiencing stillbirth. However, the form and direction of social support for […]
Novel approaches to measuring knowledge among frontline health workers in India: Are phone surveys a reliable option?
Background In 2017, India was home to nearly 20% of maternal and child deaths occurring globally. Accredited social health activists (ASHAs) act as the frontline for health services delivery in India, providing a range of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition (RMNCH&N) services. Empirical evidence on ASHAs’ knowledge is limited, yet is a critical […]
Early childhood anemia in a birth cohort in coastal Kenya: Links to infection and nutrition
Anemia is known to impact a child’s growth and development, but not all anemias are caused by iron deficiency, and theCDCandWHOhave emphasized investigating other contributors to anemia. This cross-sectional substudy of a 2012-2016 maternal-child cohort in coastal Kenya evaluated 244 children and found 185 (76%) to have been anemic on at least one time point […]
“I don’t want financial support but verbal support.” How do caregivers manage children’s access to and retention in HIV care in urban Zimbabwe?
Introduction: Children living with HIV experience particular challenges in accessing HIV care. Children usually rely on adult caregivers for access to care, including timely diagnosis, initiation of treatment and sustained engagement with HIV services. The aim of this study was to inform the design of a community-based intervention to support caregivers of HIV-positive children to […]
Equity in newborn care, evidence from national surveys in low- and middle-income countries
Background: High coverage of care is essential to improving newborn survival; however, gaps exist in access to timely and appropriate newborn care between and within countries. In high mortality burden settings, health inequities due to social and economic factors may also impact on newborn outcomes. This study aimed to examine equity in co-coverage of newborn care interventions […]
Timing, intensity, and duration of household food insecurity are associated with early childhood development in Kenya
This study examines the association between 3 dimensions of food insecurity (timing, intensity, and duration) and 3 domains of child development (gross motor, communication, and personal social). Longitudinal data from 303 households (n = 309 children) visited 9 times over 2 years were collected. Children in households experiencing severe food insecurity 3 months prior (timing) had significantly lower gross […]
The Association of Health Insurance with institutional delivery and access to skilled birth attendants: Evidence from the Kenya Demographic and health survey 2008-09
Background: Healthcare financing through health insurance is gaining traction as developing countries strive to achieve universal health coverage and address the limited access to critical health services for specific populations including pregnant women and their children. However, these reforms are taking place despite limited evaluation of impact of health insurance on maternal health in developing […]
Effect of Village Health Team home visits and mobile phone consultations on maternal and newborn care practices in Masindi and Kiryandongo, Uganda: A community-intervention trial
Introduction: The World Health Organisation recommends home visits conducted by Community Health Workers (in Uganda known as Village Health Teams-VHTs) in order to improve maternal and newborn health. This study measured the effect of home visits combined with mobile phone consultations on maternal and newborn care practices. Method: In a community intervention trial design 16 […]
Is Women’s Engagement in Women’s Development Groups Associated with Enhanced Utilization of Maternal and Neonatal Health Services? A Cross-Sectional Study in Ethiopia
Background: In Ethiopia, the Women Development Group program is a community mobilization initiative aimed at enhancing Universal Health Coverage through supporting the primary healthcare services for mothers and newborns. This study aimed to assess the association between engagement in women’s groups and the utilization of maternal and neonatal health services. Method: A cluster-sampled community-based survey […]
