Food Insecurity and Maternal Diet Influence Human Milk Composition between the Infant’s Birth and 6 Months after Birth in Central-Africa
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, evidence is scarce on how the mother’s undernourishment status at delivery and maternal dietary factors influence human milk (HM) composition during the first 6 months of life in regions with high food insecurity. […]
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a quality improvement intervention to support integration of maternal, child and HIV care in primary health care facilities in South Africa
Background: Despite policies and guidelines recommending integration of health services in South Africa, provision of maternal and child health services remains fragmented. This study evaluated a rapid, scaleable, quality improvement (QI) intervention to improve integration of maternal and child health and HIV services at a primary health level, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: A three-month […]
What factors are associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status? Baseline analysis of the KITE cohort: A prospective study in northern Ethiopia
Objective To assess a broad range of factors associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status, a key step towards improving maternal and child health outcomes, in Ethiopia. Design A baseline data analysis of a population-based prospective study. Setting Kilite-Awlaelo Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, eastern zone of Tigray regional state, northern Ethiopia. Participants We used weight measurements […]
Women empowerment and skilled birth attendance in sub-Saharan Africa: A multicountry analysis
Introduction In 2017, the highest global maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The WHO advocates that maternal deaths can be mitigated with the assistance of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at childbirth. Women empowerment is also acknowledged as an enabling factor to women’s functionality and healthcare utilisation including use of SBAs’ services. Consequently, this study […]
Investigating the early-life determinants of illness in Africa: The Drakenstein Child Health Study
Respiratory disease is the predominant cause of illness in children globally. We describe a unique multidisciplinary South African birth cohort, the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS), to investigate the incidence, risk factors, aetiology and long-term impact of early lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) on child health. Pregnant women from a poor, peri-urban community with high […]
The association of household and child food insecurity with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents in an urban setting of Ethiopia
Background: Existing evidence on the association between food insecurity and childhood obesity is mixed. In addition, literature from developing countries in general and Ethiopia in particular on the nexus and impact of household and child food insecurity on childhood obesity in the context of urbanization remains limited. The objective of this study was to explore […]
Is there a relationship between female genital mutilation/cutting and fistula? A statistical analysis using cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 10 sub-Saharan Africa countries
Objectives: Literature on associations between female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and fistula points to a common belief that FGM/C predisposes women to developing fistula. This study explores this association using nationally representative survey data. Design: A secondary statistical analysis of cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys was conducted to explore the association between FGM/C and […]
Maternal and child supplementation with lipid-based nutrient supplements, but not child supplementation alone, decreases self-reported household food insecurity in some settings
Background: It is unknown whether self-reported measures of household food insecurity change in response to foodbased nutrient supplementation. Objective: We assessed the impacts of providing lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) to women during pregnancy and postpartum and/or to their children on self-reported household food insecurity in Malawi [DOSE and DYAD trial in Malawi (DYAD-M)], Ghana [DYAD […]
Inpatient and outpatient treatment for acute malnutrition in infants under 6 months; A qualitative study from Senegal
Background: Treatment of acute malnutrition in infants under 6 months is a relevant topic regarding the global problem of maternal and child malnutrition. While treatment for older age groups has shifted more towards an outpatient, community based approach, young infants are mostly treated in hospital. This study aims to describe barriers and facilitators for outpatient […]
Cost of installing and operating an electronic clinical decision support system for maternal health care: Case of Tanzania rural primary health centres
Background: Poor quality of care is among the causes of high maternal and newborn disease burden in Tanzania. Potential reason for poor quality of care is the existence of a “know-do gap” where by health workers do not perform to the best of their knowledge. An electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) for maternal health […]
