Measuring performance on the Healthcare Access and Quality Index for 195 countries and territories and selected subnational locations: A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Background A key component of achieving universal health coverage is ensuring that all populations have access to quality health care. Examining where gains have occurred or progress has faltered across and within countries is crucial to guiding decisions and strategies for future improvement. We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study […]
The effects of health expenditure on infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from panel data analysis
Introduction: Although health expenditure in sub-Saharan African countries is the lowest compared with other regions in the world, most African countries have improved their budget allocations to health care over the past 15 years. The majority of health care sources in sub-Saharan Africa are private and largely involve out-of-pocket expenditure, which may prevent healthcare access. […]
Food insecurity, drug resistance and nondisclosure are associated with virologic nonsuppression among HIV pregnant women on antiretroviral treatment
We determined social and behavioral factors associated with virologic non-suppression among pregnant women receiving Option B+ antiretroviral treatment (ART). Baseline data was used from women in Mobile WAChX trial from 6 public maternal child health (MCH) clinics in Kenya. Virologic non-suppression was defined as HIV viral load (VL) ≥1000 copies/ml. Antiretroviral resistance testing was performed […]
Predictors of measles vaccination coverage among children 6–59 months of age in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Background: Measles is a significant contributor to child mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), despite routine immunization programs and supplementary immunization activities (SIA). Further, national immunization coverage levels may hide disparities among certain groups of children, making effective measles control even more challenging. This study describes measles vaccination coverage and reporting methods […]
Early outcomes of preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome admitted at Muhimbili National Hospital, a prospective study
Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is one of the commonest complication preterm neonates suffer and accounts for a significant morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Addressing RDS is therefore crucial in reducing the under 5 mortality in LMICs. This study aimed at describing early outcomes (death/survival) of preterm neonates with RDS […]
Undernutrition and its associated factors among pregnant women at the public hospitals of Bench-Sheko and Kaffa zone, southwest Ethiopia
Background: Undernutrition in pregnant women, expressed as low mid-upper arm circumference, is responsible for maternal mortality and morbidity, adverse birth outcomes, subsequent childhood malnutrition, and mortality. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of maternal undernutrition and associated factors during pregnancy in public hospitals in the Bench-Sheko and Kaffa […]
Postabortion care availability, facility readiness and accessibility in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire
Postabortion care (PAC) is an essential component of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) and is necessary to prevent unsafe abortion-related maternal mortality, but we know little regarding the preparedness of facilities to provide PAC services, the distribution of these services and disparities in their accessibility in low-resource settings. To address this knowledge gap, this study aims […]
Decomposition of factors associated with housing material inequality in under-five deaths in low and middle-income countries
Background: Low-and Medium-Income Countries (LMIC) continue to record a high burden of under-five deaths (U5D). There is a gap in knowledge of the factors contributing to housing materials inequalities in U5D. This study examined the contributions of the individual- and neighbourhood-level factors to housing materials inequalities in influencing U5D in LMIC. Methods: We pooled data […]
Prevalence and determinants of intimate partner violence against mothers of children under-five years in Central Malawi
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global human rights violation and a public health problem. The phenomenon is linked to adverse health effects for women and children. Mothers of young children in Malawi can be particularly at risk because of gender-based power imbalances. The objectives of this study were to examine the […]
Does anthropometric status at 6 months predict the over-dispersion of malaria infections in children aged 6-18 months? A prospective cohort study
Background: In malaria-endemic settings, a small proportion of children suffer repeated malaria infections, contributing to most of the malaria cases, yet underlying factors are not fully understood. This study was aimed to determine whether undernutrition predicts this over-dispersion of malaria infections in children aged 6-18 months in settings of high malaria and undernutrition prevalence. Methods: […]
