Asymmetric dominance and asymmetric mate choice oppose premating isolation after allopatric divergence
Assortative mating promotes reproductive isolation and allows allopatric speciation processes to continue in secondary contact. As mating patterns are determined by mate preferences and intrasexual competition, we investigated male-male competition and behavioral isolation in simulated secondary contact among allopatric populations. Three allopatric color morphs of the cichlid fish Tropheus were tested against each other. Dyadic […]
Complex Patterns of Genomic Admixture within Southern Africa
Within-population genetic diversity is greatest within Africa, while between-population genetic diversity is directly proportional to geographic distance. The most divergent contemporary human populations include the click-speaking forager peoples of southern Africa, broadly defined as Khoesan. Both intra- (Bantu expansion) and inter-continental migration (European-driven colonization) have resulted in complex patterns of admixture between ancient geographically isolated […]
Effect of training traditional birth attendants on neonatal mortality (Lufwanyama Neonatal Survival Project): Randomised controlled study
Objective: To determine whether training traditional birth attendants to manage several common perinatal conditions could reduce neonatal mortality in the setting of a resource poor country with limited access to healthcare. Design: Prospective, cluster randomised and controlled effectiveness study. Setting: Lufwanyama, an agrarian, poorly developed district located in the Copperbelt province, Zambia. All births carried […]
Effectiveness of a package of postpartum family planning interventions on the uptake of contraceptive methods until twelve months postpartum in Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo: The YAM DAABO study protocol
Background: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) information and services can prevent maternal and child morbidity and mortality in low-resource countries, where high unmet need for PPFP remains despite opportunities offered by routine postnatal care visits. This study aims to identify a package of PPFP interventions and determine its effectiveness on the uptake of contraceptive methods during […]
Antenatal couples’ counselling in Uganda (ACCU): study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial
Background: Common avoidable factors leading to maternal, perinatal and neonatal deaths include lack of birth planning (and delivery in an inappropriate place) and unmet need for contraception. Progress has been slow because routine antenatal care has focused only on women. Yet, in Uganda, many women first want the approval of their husbands. The World Health […]
Improving the demand for birth registration: A discrete choice experiment in Ethiopia
Introduction Birth registration remains limited in most low and middle-income countries. We investigated which characteristics of birth registration facilities might determine caregivers’ decisions to register children in Ethiopia. Methods We conducted a discrete choice experiment in randomly selected households in Addis Ababa and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region. We interviewed caregivers of children […]
“Communicate to vaccinate”: The development of a taxonomy of communication interventions to improve routine childhood vaccination
Background: Vaccination is a cost-effective public health measure and is central to the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality. However, childhood vaccination coverage remains sub-optimal in many settings. While communication is a key feature of vaccination programmes, we are not aware of any comprehensive approach to organising the broad range of communication interventions that […]
Characterizing local-scale heterogeneity of malaria risk: A case study in Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district in northern Ghana
Background: Bayesian methods have been used to generate country-level and global maps of malaria prevalence. With increasing availability of detailed malaria surveillance data, these methodologies can also be used to identify fine-scale heterogeneity of malaria parasitaemia for operational prevention and control of malaria. Methods: In this article, a Bayesian geostatistical model was applied to six […]
Infant HIV testing at birth using point-ofcare and conventional HIV DNA PCR: An implementation feasibility pilot study in Kenya
Background: Infant HIV diagnosis by HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at the standard 6 weeks of age is often late to mitigate the mortality peak that occurs in HIV positive infants’ first 2-3 months of life. Kenya recently revised their early infant diagnosis (EID) guidelines to include HIV DNA PCR testing at birth […]
Investigating the non-specific effects of BCG vaccination on the innate immune system in Ugandan neonates: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Background: The potential for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination to protect infants against non-mycobacterial disease has been suggested by a randomised controlled trial conducted in low birth-weight infants in West Africa. Trials to confirm these findings in healthy term infants, and in a non-West African setting, have not yet been carried out. In addition, a biological […]
