A qualitative study exploring the determinants of maternal health service uptake in post-conflict Burundi and Northern Uganda
Background: Armed conflict has been described as an important contributor to the social determinants of health and a driver of health inequity, including maternal health. These conflicts may severely reduce access to maternal health services and, as a consequence, lead to poor maternal health outcomes for a period extending beyond the conflict itself. As such, […]
Evaluating the impact of a maternal health voucher programme on service use before and after the introduction of free maternity services in Kenya: A quasi-experimental study
Introduction From 2006 to 2016, the Government of Kenya implemented a reproductive health voucher programme in select counties, providing poor women subsidised access to public and private sector care. In June 2013, the government introduced a policy calling for free maternity services to be provided in all public facilities. The concurrent implementation of these interventions […]
HIV infection, hunger, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms are associated with exclusive breastfeeding to six months among women in western Kenya: A longitudinal observational study
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is recommended for all infants. However, breastfeeding rates remain suboptimal; around 37% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months globally. In Nyanza region, western Kenya, numerous challenges to breastfeeding have been identified, including food insecurity, hunger, depressive symptoms, and HIV infection. Yet, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Disparities in micronutrient intake among children 6-23 months in Ethiopia: a multi-level analysis based on national survey data
Both micronutrient deficiency and undernutrition among children are priority areas of public health concern in Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with disparities in micronutrients intake among children 6-23 months. Data were drawn from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). A total of 3076 children aged […]
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 […]
Determinants of the disparities in antenatal care and delivery care services in Uganda
Disparities in the Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance and Delivery in a Health Facility (DHF) were examined in Uganda where the maternal and the new-born mortality are high. Cross-sectional data on 4818 women were obtained from the 2011 Uganda Demographic Health Survey and was used. Over half and three-fifth of the women attended the recommended 4 […]
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 […]
