A qualitative inquiry into pregnant women’s perceptions of respectful maternity care during childbirth in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria
Women’s perceptions of respectful maternity care (RMC) are critical to its definition and measurement globally. We evaluated these in relation to globally defined RMC norms. We conducted a descriptive study involving eight focus group discussions with 50 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at one primary and one secondary health facility each in the North-west and […]
Community perceptions of malaria and vaccines in the South Coast and Busia regions of Kenya
Background: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years in Kenya. Within the context of planning for a vaccine to be used alongside existing malaria control methods, this study explores sociocultural and health communications issues among individuals who are responsible for or influence decisions on childhood vaccination at […]
Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding practices in Nigeria: a study of socioeconomic inequalities
Background: The effects of breastfeeding practices on children’s health are undoubtedly of great interest. However, inequalities in breastfeeding practices and mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) exist in many resource-constrained settings. This study examined the regional prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), early initiation of breastfeeding and SSC in Nigeria. Methods: Data on […]
Supportive supervision for volunteers to deliver reproductive health education: a cluster randomized trial
Background: Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) can be effective in improving pregnancy and newborn outcomes through community education. Inadequate supervision of CHVs, whether due to poor planning, irregular visits, or ineffective supervisory methods, is, however, recognized as a weakness in many programs. There has been little research on best practice supervisory or accompaniment models. Methods: From […]
Household food insecurity and its association with nutritional status of under five children in Sekela District, Western Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study
Background: Food insecurity influences children nutritional status by limiting the quantity and quality of dietary intake. Studies conducted across different parts of the world revealed controversial evidences about the relationship between household food insecurity and child nutritional status. Although child malnutrition and food insecurity are the main problems in Ethiopia, to what extent food insecurity […]
Understanding barriers to men’s support for family planning in rural Ethiopia—findings from the USAID Transform: Primary Health Care Project Gender Analysis
Background: Evidence suggests that supportive male engagement in health care services, including family planning, remains low in many countries, despite known benefits for female partners. In 2017–2018, the United States Agency for International Development Transform: Primary Health Care Project conducted a participatory gender analysis, collecting relevant data to better understand Ethiopian men’s lack of support […]
Predictors of Stunting and Underweight Among Children Aged 6 to 59 months in Bussi Islands, Wakiso District, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Child undernutrition is a major public health concern in Uganda that can lead to increased risks of death with its prevalence higher in rural hard-to-reach areas than in urban areas. While it is assumed that the prevalence will be more concerning in islands with restricted accessibility to healthcare resources, limited research has been conducted […]
Determinants of practice of preconception care among women of reproductive age group in southern Ethiopia, 2020: content analysis
Background: Preconception care (PCC) is a series of biomedical, mental, and psycho-social health services provided to women and a couple before pregnancy and throughout subsequent pregnancies for desired outcomes. Millions of women and new-borns have died in low-income countries due to impediments that arise before and exaggerate during pregnancies that are not deal with as […]
Association between breast milk intake at 9–10 months of age and growth and development among Malawian young children
World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants for the first 6 months of life, followed by introduction of nutritious complementary foods alongside breastfeeding. Breast milk remains a significant source of nourishment in the second half of infancy and beyond; however, it is not clear whether more breast milk is always better. The present study was […]
Dynamics of the infant gut microbiota in the first 18 months of life: the impact of maternal HIV infection and breastfeeding
Background: Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and breastfeeding for mothers with HIV has resulted in fewer children acquiring HIV peri- and postnatally, resulting in an increase in the number of children who are exposed to the virus but are not infected (HEU). HEU infants have an increased likelihood of childhood infections and adverse […]
