Strengthening the community health program in Liberia: Lessons learned from a health system approach to inform program design and better prepare for future shocks
Background Arising from the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, the 2015-2021 Investment Plan aimed to improve the health status of the Liberian population through building a resilient health system that contributes to achieving equitable health outcomes. Recognizing the significance of community participation in overcoming the EVD outbreak, strengthening community systems emerged as one of the […]
Antenatal care in practice: An exploratory study in antenatal care clinics in the Kilombero Valley, south-eastern Tanzania
Background: The potential of antenatal care for reducing maternal morbidity and improving newborn survival and health is widely acknowledged. Yet there are worrying gaps in knowledge of the quality of antenatal care provided in Tanzania. In particular, determinants of health workers’ performance have not yet been fully understood. This paper uses ethnographic methods to document […]
Pregnancy-related morbidity and risk factors for fatal foetal outcomes in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Côte d’Ivoire
Background: Reliable, population-based data on pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality, and risk factors for fatal foetal outcomes are scarce for low- and middle-income countries. Yet, such data are essential for understanding and improving maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing. Methods: Within the 4-monthly surveillance rounds of the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in south-central […]
Unmet contraceptive needs among female sex workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi
Background: Research has paid limited attention to understanding factors that are associated with unmet contraceptive needs among female sex workers. In order to fill this knowledge gap, we estimated the prevalence of unmet contraceptive needs and examined associated factors among FSWs in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi. Methods: We used systematic sampling to recruit 290 female […]
Factors associated with the use of deworming drugs during pregnancy in Tanzania; an analysis from the 2015–16 Tanzanian HIV and malaria indicators survey
Background: The use of deworming drugs is one of the important antenatal strategies in preventing anaemia in pregnancy. Little is known about the factors associated with the use of deworming drugs, which accounts for the aim of this study. Method: The study used data from the 2015–16 Tanzania HIV Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria […]
Individual and Contextual Factors Associated With Malaria Among Children 6–59 Months in Burkina Faso
Objective: This study aims to understand the individual and contextual factors associated with malaria among children aged 6–59 months in Burkina Faso. Methods: This cross-sectional study used secondary data extracted from the Burkina Faso Malaria Indicator Survey 2017–2018. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse socio-demographic characteristics. We performed a multilevel logistic regression model to highlight individual […]
The injection or the injection? Restricted contraceptive choices among women living with HIV
Historically, women living with HIV (WLWH) have been vulnerable to biased advice from healthcare workers regarding contraception and childbearing. However, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has made motherhood safer, prompting a re-examination of whether contraceptive services enable the realisation of WLWH’s reproductive intentions. We use longitudinal quantitative data on contraceptive choice and use, and childbearing intentions collected […]
Prevalence and predictors for unintended pregnancy among HIV-infected pregnant women in Lira, Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Prevention of unintended pregnancies is a global strategy to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Factors surrounding unintended pregnancy among women living with HIV are not well understood. We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors for unintended pregnancy among these women in Northern Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 518 women using a structured […]
Factors associated with delays in seeking post abortion care among women in Kenya
Background: Delays in seeking quality post abortion care services remain a major contributor to high levels of mortality and morbidity among women who experience unsafe abortion. However, little is known about the causes of and factors associated with delays in seeking care among women who suffer complications of unsafe abortion. This study looks at factors […]
Postpartum women’s lived experiences of perinatal intimate partner violence in wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia: A phenomenological study approach
Objective: Perinatal intimate partner violence affects the health and safety of postpartum women and their infants. However, it has not been well recognized and addressed in the study setting. Hence, this study aimed to explore postpartum women’s lived experiences of perinatal intimate partner violence and its contributing factors in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A […]
