The mentor mothers program in the department of defense in nigeria: An evaluation of healthcare workers, mentor mothers, and patients’ experiences
Nigeria contributes the highest to the global burden of HIV/AIDS and also accounts for the largest proportion of new vertically transmitted HIV infections among children. The Mentor Mothers program in the Nigerian Department of Defense was introduced in accordance with the World Health Organization and its implementing partner guidelines to curb the high incidence of […]
Choice of birth place among antenatal clinic attendees in rural mission hospitals in Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria
Background Low utilization of health facilities for delivery by pregnant women poses a public health challenge in Nigeria. Aim To determine the factors that influence the choice of birth place among antenatal clinic attendees. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study of the eligible antenatal clinic attendees recruited at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Afikpo and Saint Vincent […]
Strengthening intrapartum and immediate newborn care to reduce morbidity and mortality of preterm infants born in health facilities in Migori County, Kenya and Busoga Region, Uganda: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background: Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation) and its complications are the leading contributors to neonatal and under-5 mortality. The majority of neonatal deaths in Kenya and Uganda occur during the intrapartum and immediate postnatal period. This paper describes our study protocol for implementing and evaluating a package of facility-based interventions to improve […]
Staff recognition and its importance for surgical service delivery: A qualitative study in Freetown, Sierra Leone
We examined the views of providers and users of the surgical system in Freetown, Sierra Leone on processes of care, job and service satisfaction and barriers to achieving quality and accessible care, focusing particularly on the main public tertiary hospital in Freetown and two secondary and six primary sites from which patients are referred to […]
Provision of essential health package in public hospitals: A case of Homabay county hospitals, Kenya
Introduction: Essential Health Packages (EHP) delivery is likely to strengthen service delivery. Healthcare utilization rate is 77% for the sick. 44% and 18% who don’t seek care are hindered by cost and distance respectively. The overall child mortality rate in Kenya is 121/1000. In Homabay County, child mortality rate is 91/1000, and maternal mortality rate […]
Determinants of pre-lacteal feeding practices among mothers having children aged less than 36 months in Ethiopia: Evidence from 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey
Background: Pre-lacteal feeding is associated with infant morbidity and mortality especially during the neonatal period. About 96% infant deaths in developing countries are attributable to inappropriate feeding practice during the first 6 months of life. This study assessed determinants of pre-lacteal feeding practices in Ethiopia using the data from nationally representative survey. Methods: Data were […]
Trends and correlates of HIV testing amongst women: Lessons learnt from Kenya
Background: A majority of women in Kenya do not know their HIV status and are therefore unable to take preventive measures or medication in order to prolong their lives. Objectives: This study investigates the key determinants of HIV testing in Kenya and documents how these changed over the 1998-2008 period. Method: This study uses data […]
Findings and Implications from an Evaluation of the Gold Star Campaign in Post-Ebola Guinea: The Role of Gender and Education
In post-Ebola Guinea, the Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) project worked to rebuild trust in the health system and increase the utilization of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health services. Core to HC3 Guinea was the promotion of quality local health centers through the Gold Star campaign (2016-2017). The current study aimed to determine the […]
Improved maternity care if midwives learn to perform ultrasound: A qualitative study of Rwandan midwives’ experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound
Background: Obstetric ultrasound has become an indispensable part of antenatal care worldwide. Although the use of ultrasound has shown benefits in the reduction of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, it has also raised many ethical challenges. Because of insufficient numbers of midwives in Rwanda, uncomplicated pregnancy care is usually provided by nurses in local […]
Increasing contraceptive access for hard-to-reach populations with vouchers and social Franchising in Uganda
From 2001 to 2011, modern contraceptive prevalence in Uganda increased from 18% to 26%. However, modern method use, in particular use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and permanent methods (PMs), remained low. In the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, only 1 of 5 married women used a LARC or PM even though 34% indicated […]