Vertical Cytomegalovirus Transmission From HIV-Infected Women Randomized to Formula-Feed or Breastfeed Their Infants
Background. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is associated with morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed infants. We assessed the effect of and relative contribution of breastfeeding to CMV acquisition among infants delivered by HIV-infected mothers. Methods. Between 1993 and 1998 pregnant, HIV-infected women in Nairobi, Kenya, were randomly assigned to breastfeed or formula-feed their infants in […]
Male partners’ participation in birth preparedness and complication readiness in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Maternal and neonatal health outcomes remain a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite priority given to involving male partners in birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR). Men in LMICs often determine women’s access to and affordability of health services. This systematic review and meta-analysis determined the pooled magnitude of male partner’s participation […]
Global patterns of mortality in international migrants: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: 258 million people reside outside their country of birth; however, to date no global systematic reviews or meta-analyses of mortality data for these international migrants have been done. We aimed to review and synthesise available mortality data on international migrants. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, […]
Prevalence of malaria infection in pregnant women compared with children for tracking malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: In malarious areas, pregnant women are more likely to have detectable malaria than are their non-pregnant peers, and the excess risk of infection varies with gravidity. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinic for their first visit are a potential pragmatic sentinel group to track the intensity of malaria transmission; however, the relation between malaria prevalence […]
Multiple concurrent illnesses associated with anemia in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed uninfected children aged 6-59 months, hospitalized in Mozambique
Anemia is an increasingly recognized problem in sub-Saharan Africa. To determine the magnitude, severity, and associated factors of anemia among hospitalized children aged 6-59 months, HIV-infected and HIV-exposed uninfected children (a child born to a known HIV-infected mother) with a documented fever or history of fever within the prior 24 hours of hospital admission (N […]
Resilience in maternal and child nutrition outcomes in a refugee-hosting community in Cameroon: A quasi-experimental study
Refugees may be perceived as a burden to their host communities, and nutrition insecurity is a critical area of contention. We explored the relationship between refugee presence and a host community’s resilience in nutrition outcomes in Cameroon. We also tested an analytical framework for evaluating community resilience during shocks. We used data from repeated cross-sectional […]
Initial findings from a novel population-based child mortality surveillance approach: a descriptive study
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia contributed 81% of 5·9 million under-5 deaths and 77% of 2·6 million stillbirths worldwide in 2015. Vital registration and verbal autopsy data are mainstays for the estimation of leading causes of death, but both are non-specific and focus on a single underlying cause. We aimed to provide granular data […]
Vitamin D Concentrations in Infancy and the Risk of Tuberculosis Disease in Childhood: A Prospective Birth Cohort in Cape Town, South Africa
Background: Low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of tuberculosis disease; however, previous observational cohort studies showed variable results. We investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels in infancy and subsequent development of tuberculosis disease throughout childhood. Methods: We enrolled pregnant women at 20-28 weeks’ gestation attending antenatal care in a periurban South African […]
Weight and mid-upper arm circumference gain velocities during treatment of young children with severe acute malnutrition, a prospective study in Uganda
Background: Weight gain is routinely monitored to assess hydration and growth during treatment of children with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM). However, changes in weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) gain velocities over time are scarcely described. We assessed weight and MUAC gain velocities in 6–59 mo-old children with complicated SAM by treatment phase and […]
Use of mobile phones and text messaging to decrease the turnaround time for early infant HIV diagnosis and notification in rural Zambia: An observational study
Background: Early infant diagnosis of HIV infection is challenging in rural sub-Saharan Africa as blood samples are sent to central laboratories for HIV DNA testing, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. Simple technologies to rapidly deliver results to clinics and notify mothers of test results would decrease many of these delays. The feasibility […]
