A mixed-methods study of factors influencing postpartum intrauterine device uptake after family planning counseling among women in Kigali, Rwanda
Introduction Rwanda has high unmet need for family planning (FP), especially in the postpartum period when women are advised to space pregnancies at least two years for improved maternal-child health. Despite interest in the copper intrauterine device (IUD), a highly cost-effective method, access and uptake remain low. This study aimed to determine factors associated with […]
Assessment of water, sanitation and hygiene service availability in healthcare facilities in the greater Kampala metropolitan area, Uganda
Background: Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Healthcare facilities (HCFs) is of significant public health importance. It is associated with a reduction in the transmission of healthcare acquired infections (HAIs), increased trust and uptake of healthcare services, cost saving from infections averted, increased efficiency and improved staff morale. Despite these benefits, there is limited […]
Prevalence of stunting and associated factors among public primary school pupils of Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia: School-based cross-sectional study
Background Stunting is a well-established child-health indicator of chronic malnutrition, which reliably gives a picture of the past nutritional history and the prevailing environmental and socioeconomic circumstances. Objective To investigate the prevalence of stunting and associated factors among public primary school children of the Bahir Dar city. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out from […]
Perception of caring behavior and associated factors among nurses and midwives working in public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia
Objective: This study aimed to assess the perception of caring behaviors and associated factors among nurses and midwives who provided maternal health care services at Sidama region public hospitals, Hawassa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used on a sample of 269 nurses and midwives working in maternity wards in Sidama region public […]
Predictors for achieving adequate antenatal care visits during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in rural Northwest Rwanda
Background: Inadequate antenatal care (ANC) in low-income countries has been identified as a risk factor for poor pregnancy outcome. While many countries, including Rwanda, have near universal ANC coverage, a significant proportion of pregnant women do not achieve the recommended regimen of four ANC visits. The present study aimed to explore the factors associated with […]
A descriptive study of healthcare-providers’ experiences with the use and quality of oxytocin for the prevention of post-partum hemorrhage in Nigeria: A nation-wide survey
Background Oxytocin is recommended as an affordable and effective drug in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage—one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, however, there are concerns about its proper use and quality. This study builds on earlier work conducted in a South-Western state in Nigeria. Objective The […]
A cross-sectional ecological analysis of international and sub-national health inequalities in commercial geospatial resource availability
Background: Commercial geospatial data resources are frequently used to understand healthcare utilisation. Although there is widespread evidence of a digital divide for other digital resources and infra-structure, it is unclear how commercial geospatial data resources are distributed relative to health need. Methods: To examine the distribution of commercial geospatial data resources relative to health needs, […]
Implementation of a malaria prevention education intervention in Southern Ethiopia: a qualitative evaluation
Background: Though school-aged children (SAC) are at high risk of malaria, they are the ones that benefit the least from malaria prevention measures. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of malaria prevention education (MPE) on insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) utilization and prompt diagnosis, reported incidence and treatment (PDAT) of malaria. […]
Shorter Height is Associated with Diabetes in Women but not in Men: Nationally Representative Evidence from Namibia
Objective: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that attained adult height, as an indicator of childhood nutrition, is associated with diabetes in adulthood in Namibia, a country where stunting is highly prevalent. Methods: Data from 1,898 women and 1,343 men aged 35 to 64 years included in the Namibia Demographic and Health Survey in […]
Pregnant women’s experiences with an integrated diagnostic and decision support device for antenatal care in Ghana
Background: Quality antenatal care (ANC) is recognised as an opportunity for screening and early identification of pregnancy-related complications. In rural Ghana, challenges with access to diagnostic services demotivate women from ANC attendance and referral compliance, leading to absent or late identification and management of high-risk women. In 2016, an integrated diagnostic and clinical decision support […]
