Molecular detection of Plasmodium falciparum infection in matched peripheral and placental blood samples from delivering women in Libreville, Gabon
Submicroscopic infections account for more than 50% of all Plasmodium (P.) infections in areas with decreasing malaria prevalence and might contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes. The frequency of submicroscopic P. falciparum infections was assessed in matched peripheral and placental blood samples with microscopy negative or discordant results according to IPTp administration. Methods. P. falciparum infection […]
Predictors of post neonatal mortality in Western Kenya: A cohort study
Introduction: to determine the predictors of mortality in infants in Siaya, western Kenya, ahead of novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccine trials in the same population. Methods: in a study to determine tuberculosis incidence, 2900 infants aged 0-45 days, weighing ≥ 1700g were enrolled. Four monthly follow up visits were conducted for at least 12 months. HIV […]
Community perceptions of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in southern Mozambique
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest maternal mortality ratio at 500 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Mozambique maternal mortality is estimated at 249-480 per 100,000 live births and eclampsia is the third leading cause of death. The objective of this study was to describe the community understanding of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, as a crucial […]
Are stage-based health information messages effective and good value for money in improving maternal newborn and child health outcomes in India? Protocol for an individually randomized controlled trial
Background: Evidence is limited on the effectiveness of mobile health programs which provide stage-based health information messages to pregnant and postpartum women. Kilkari is an outbound service that delivers weekly, stage-based audio messages about pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare directly to families in 13 states across India on their mobile phones. In this protocol we outline […]
Lesotho’s Minimum PMTCT Package: Lessons learned for combating vertical HIV transmission using co-packaged medicines
Introduction: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be reduced to
Different gut microbial profiles in sub-saharan african and south asian women of childbearing age are primarily associated with dietary intakes
Background: To compare and characterize the gut microbiota in women of childbearing age from sub-Saharan Africa (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC) and South Asia (India), in relation to dietary intakes. Methods: Women of childbearing age were recruited from rural DRC and India as part of the Women First (WF) preconception maternal nutrition trial. […]
Hypertension persisting after pre-eclampsia: A prospective cohort study at Mulago Hospital, Uganda
Background: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia usually resolves after delivery but sometimes hypertension persists and cardiovascular disease develops later. Our objective was to determine the incidence and maternal socio-demographic and obstetric risk factors for persistence of hypertension in women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted from July 2009 to June 2011 at Mulago Hospital labour […]
Epidemiology of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli infections and associated outcomes in the MAL-ED birth cohort
Background: Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) have been associated with mildly inflammatory diarrhea in outbreaks and in travelers and have been increasingly recognized as enteric pathogens in young children with and without overt diarrhea. We examined the risk factors for EAEC infections and their associations with environmental enteropathy biomarkers and growth outcomes over the first two […]
Effect of Rubus idaeus L. Consumption During Pregnancy on Maternal Mice and Their Offspring
The trigger for human labor is a scientific mystery. This research examined Rubus idaeus (RI), commonly referred to as red raspberry, which is widely purported to be efficacious in promoting parturition processes and favorable birth outcomes. This randomized controlled trial sought to determine the influence of RI consumption during gestation on C57BL/6N Tac mice and […]
Parity and institutional delivery in rural Tanzania: A multilevel analysis and policy implications
Objectives We assess the extent to which the use of healthcare facilities for childbirth varies by parity, conditional on socio-economic, psychological and health characteristics. We also assess differences in the determinants of institutionalized delivery for first-time mothers and multiparous, and explore village-level variations in observed relationships.Methods Survey data from a three-stage cross-sectional cluster sample of […]
