Residence and young women’s comprehensive HIV knowledge in Ethiopia
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global health problem. The epidemic is very serious in sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 70% of the global cases. The disease particularly affects youth, accounting for half of the new HIV infections yearly. Inadequate knowledge may contribute to the high rates among youth. Hence, the main aim of […]
Time-critical conditions: Assessment of burden and access to care using verbal autopsy in Agincourt, South Africa
Background Time-critical conditions (TCC) are estimated to cause substantial mortality in low and middle-income countries. However, quantification of deaths and identification of contributing factors to those deaths are challenging in settings with poor health records. Aim To use verbal autopsy (VA) data from the Agincourt health and sociodemographic surveillance system in rural South Africa to […]
Protocol for the trial to establish a causal linkage between mycotoxin exposure and child stunting: A cluster randomized trial
Background: The number of stunted children has fallen globally but continues to increase in Africa. Stunting is estimated to contribute to 14-17% of child deaths under 5 years of age and is a risk factor for poor cognitive and motor development and educational outcomes. Inadequate dietary intake and disease are thought to be the immediate […]
Maternal depression treatment in HIV (M-DEPTH): Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial
INTRODUCTION: Over one-third of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women are clinically depressed, increasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, as well as negative birth and child development outcomes. This study will evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an evidence-based stepped care treatment model for perinatal depression (maternal depression treatment in HIV [M-DEPTH]) […]
Mixed effects analysis of factors associated with health insurance coverage among women in sub-Saharan Africa
Introduction In the pursuit of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal targets of universal health coverage and reducing maternal mortality, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have implemented health insurance policies over the last two decades. Given that there is a paucity of empirical literature at the sub-regional level, we examined the prevalence and factors associated with […]
A qualitative study of women’s network social support and facility delivery in rural Ghana
Similar to many sub-Saharan African countries, maternal mortality in Ghana ranks among the highest (39 th ) globally. Prior research has demonstrated the impact of social network characteristics on health facility delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. However, in-depth examination of the function of all members in a woman’s network, in providing various types of support for […]
Body size preferences and food choice among mothers and children in Malawi
Overweight in mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly increasing and may be related to body size perceptions and preferences. We enrolled 268 mother–child (6–59 months) pairs in central Malawi; 71% of mothers and 56% of children were overweight/obese, and the remainder were normal weight. Interviewers used seven body silhouette drawings and a questionnaire […]
Seasonal food insecurity in Haydom, Tanzania, Is associated with low birthweight and acute malnutrition: Results from the MAL-ED study
In rural agricultural communities in Africa, particularly those with a single annual harvest, the preharvest period has been associated with increased food insecurity. We estimated the association between seasonal food insecurity and childhood malnutrition in Haydom, Tanzania. Children enrolled in a birth cohort study were followed twice weekly to document food intake and monthly for […]
Facility-based delivery in the context of Zimbabwe’s HIV epidemic – missed opportunities for improving engagement with care: A community-based serosurvey
Background: In developing countries, facility-based delivery is recommended for maternal and neonatal health, and for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). However, little is known about whether or not learning one’s HIV status affects one’s decision to deliver in a health facility. We examined this association in Zimbabwe. Methods: We analyzed data from a 2012 […]
Exploring spatial variations and determinants of dietary diversity among children in ethiopia: Spatial and multilevel analysis using edhs (2011–2016)
Introduction: Dietary diversity has a significant impact on children’s nutritional health. For developing and implementing interventions, it is critical to understand the regional distribution of dietary diversity and underlying factors. However, the application of spatial techni-ques in dietary studies has not been well documented. The study’s goal was to look into the regional variances and […]
