mhealth-based health promotion intervention to improve use of maternity care services among women in rural southwestern uganda: Iterative development study
Background: Antenatal care (ANC) prevents perinatal morbidity and mortality, but use of these services in Uganda remains low and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. There is growing evidence that mobile health (mHealth) approaches improve timely communication of health-related information and produce positive health behavior change as well as health outcomes. […]
Prevalence and associated factors of early postnatal care service use among mothers who had given birth within the last 12 months in Adigrat town, Tigray, northern Ethiopia, 2018
Background: The care given for the first hours, days, and weeks after childbirth is life-threatening. So far, this period receives less attention from health-care providers than the care given to pregnancy and delivery. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of early postnatal care service use among mothers who had given birth […]
Patterns and predictors of gestational weight gain in Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study
Introduction: Gaining excessive or inadequate gestational weight is associated with many adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) increases the risk of fetal growth restriction, pre-term birth, and low birth weight. It is a public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns and predictors […]
Decreasing incidence of pregnancy among HIV-positive adolescents in a large HIV treatment program in western Kenya between 2005 and 2017: a retrospective cohort study
Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for pregnancy among HIV-positive adolescents in a large HIV treatment program in western Kenya. Methods: The Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) program is a partnership between Moi University, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and a consortium of 11 […]
Health worker and policy-maker perspectives on use of intramuscular artesunate for pre-referral and definitive treatment of severe malaria at health posts in Ethiopia
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends injectable artesunate given either intravenously or by the intramuscular route for definitive treatment for severe malaria and recommends a single intramuscular dose of intramuscular artesunate or intramuscular artemether or intramuscular quinine, in that order of preference as pre-referral treatment when definitive treatment is not possible. Where intramuscular injections […]
The effects of maternity waiting homes on the health workforce and maternal health service delivery in rural Zambia: A qualitative analysis
Background: Maternity waiting homes (MWHs) are a potential strategy to address low facility delivery rates resulting from access-associated barriers in resource-limited settings. Within a cluster-randomized controlled trial testing a community-generated MWH model in rural Zambia, we qualitatively assessed how MWHs affect the health workforce and maternal health service delivery at their associated rural health centers. […]
Food insecurity associated with attendance to antenatal care among pregnant women: Findings from a community-based cross-sectional study in Southern Ethiopia
Purpose: Enrollment to antenatal care (ANC) is still not universal in Ethiopia. This study examines whether household food insecurity affects antenatal care attendance or not, as well as other factors associated with antenatal care. As optimal antenatal care is vital for the improvement of maternal and child health, the study will contribute to the efforts […]
Effect of under-nutrition during pregnancy on low birth weight in Tigray regional state, Ethiopia; a prospective cohort study
Background: Under-nutrition during pregnancy affects birth outcomes and neonatal outcomes. Worldwide, 20.5 million children were low birth weight, mainly in poor countries. However, there is no longitudinal-based evidence on the effect of under-nutrition during pregnancy on birth weight in Tigray regional state. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the effect of under-nutrition during pregnancy on […]
Wealth-related inequality in early uptake of HIV testing among pregnant women: An analysis of data from a national cross-sectional survey, South Africa
Objectives Wealth-related inequality across the South African antenatal HIV care cascade has not been considered in detail as a potential hindrance to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission (EMTCT). We aimed to measure wealth-related inequality in early (before enrolling into antenatal care) uptake of HIV testing and identify the contributing determinants. Design Cross-sectional survey. Settings South African […]
Missed opportunities in antenatal care for improving the health of pregnant women and newborns in Geita district, Northwest Tanzania
Background: Despite the significant benefits of early detection and management of pregnancy related complications during antenatal care (ANC) visits, not all pregnant women in Tanzania initiate ANC in a timely manner. The primary objectives of this research study in rural communities of Geita district, Northwest Tanzania were: 1) to conduct a population-based study that examined […]
