The international Perinatal Outcomes in the Pandemic (iPOP) study: Protocol
Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant death worldwide, but the causes of preterm birth are largely unknown. During the early COVID-19 lockdowns, dramatic reductions in preterm birth were reported; however, these trends may be offset by increases in stillbirth rates. It is important to study these trends globally as the pandemic continues, and […]
Adapting the HIV infant tracking system to support prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Kenya: Protocol for an intervention development pilot study in two hospitals
Background: Despite progress to expand access to HIV testing and treatment during pregnancy in Kenya, gaps still remain in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services. This study addresses the need for effective and scalable interventions to support women throughout the continuum of care for PMTCT services in low-resource settings. Our research team has […]
Environmental and behavioural exposure pathways associated with diarrhoea and enteric pathogen detection in 5-month-old, periurban Kenyan infants: a cross-sectional study
Objectives The aim of this study was to test whether household environmental hygiene and behavioural conditions moderated associations between diarrhoea and enteric pathogen detection in infants 5 months of age in Kenya and pathogen sources, including latrine access, domestic animal co-habitation and public food sources. Design Cross-sectional study utilising enrolment survey data of households participating […]
Predicting neurodevelopmental risk in children born to mothers living with HIV in Kenya: protocol for a prospective cohort study (Tabiri Study)
Introduction For the growing number of children with in utero and postpartum exposure to HIV and/or antiretrovirals, it is unclear which exposures or risk factors play a significant role in predicting worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This protocol describes a prospective longitudinal cohort study of infants born to mothers living with HIV and those born to mothers […]
WHO multi-country survey on abortion-related morbidity and mortality in health facilities: Study protocol
Introduction: According to the WHO, abortion accounts for about 8% (4.7–13.2) of maternal mortality worldwide. In 2010, the WHO Multi-Country Survey (MCS) on Maternal and Newborn Health collected data on over 300 000 women who were admitted in health facilities to receive pregnancy-related care. Abortion data were partially captured by centring on severe maternal outcomes […]
Place of residence moderates the risk of infant death in Kenya: Evidence from the most recent census 2009
Background: Substantial progress has been made in reducing childhood mortality worldwide from 1990-2015 (Millennium Development Goal, target 4). Achieving target goals on this however remains a challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya’s infant mortality rates are higher than the global average and are more pronounced in urban areas as compared to rural areas. Only limited knowledge […]
Maternal challenges of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding in Ghana
Mothers are recommended to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of their lives. Also, after the sixth month, breastfeeding should continue with added complementary foods to the diets of children. Studies designed to sought the views of mothers on breastfeeding practices are limited. The aim of this study was to explore challenges […]
Utilization of key preventive measures for pregnancy complications and malaria among women in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia
Background: In Ethiopia, malaria infections and other complications during pregnancy contribute to the high burden of maternal morbidity and mortality. Preventive measures are available, however little is known about the factors influencing the uptake of maternal health services and interventions by pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods: We analyzed data from a community-based cross-sectional survey conducted […]
Effects of behavioural interventions on postpartum retention and adherence among women with HIV on lifelong ART: the results of a cluster randomized trial in Kenya (the MOTIVATE trial)
Introduction: Retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and postpartum for women living with HIV (WLWH) are necessary to optimize health outcomes for women and infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of two evidenced-based behavioural interventions on postpartum adherence and retention in WLWH in Kenya. […]
Use of quantitative molecular diagnostic methods to investigate the effect of enteropathogen infections on linear growth in children in low-resource settings: longitudinal analysis of results from the MAL-ED cohort study
Background: Enteropathogen infections in early childhood not only cause diarrhoea but contribute to poor growth. We used molecular diagnostics to assess whether particular enteropathogens were associated with linear growth across seven low-resource settings. Methods: We used quantitative PCR to detect 29 enteropathogens in diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal stools collected from children in the first 2 years […]
