Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Background Irrational prescription of drugs can lead to high cost of treatment thus limiting access to essential medicines. We assessed the affordability and appropriateness of prescriptions written for diabetic patients in Eastern Uganda. Methods We collected secondary data from the health management information system registers of patients who attended the outpatient medical clinic at Mbale […]

Cost-effectiveness of pre-exposure HIV prophylaxis during pregnancy and breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction: Antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV acquisition is cost-effective when delivered to those at substantial risk. Despite a high incidence of HIV infection among pregnant and breastfeeding women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a theoretical increased risk of preterm birth on PrEP could outweigh the HIV prevention benefit. Methods: We developed a […]

Two-year morbidity-mortality and alternatives to prolonged breast-feeding among children born to HIV-infected mothers in Côte d’Ivoire

Background: Little is known about the long-term safety of infant feeding interventions aimed at reducing breast milk HIV transmission in Africa. Methods and Findings: In 2001-2005, HIV-infected pregnant women having received in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, a peripartum antiretroviral prophylaxis were presented antenatally with infant feeding interventions: either artificial feeding, or exclusive breast-feeding and then early […]

Pooled prevalence and associated factors of diarrhea among under-five years children in East Africa: A multilevel logistic regression analysis

Background Worldwide, diarrhea is the second most common cause of death and morbidity among under-five years’ children. In sub-saran Africa, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene are very scanty and the burden of diarrhea diseases is countless relative to the rest of the world. Prior studies conducted in East Africa vary in design, sample size, […]

Moving toward patient-centered care in Africa: A discrete choice experiment of preferences for delivery care among 3,003 Tanzanian women

Objective: In order to develop patient-centered care we need to know what patients want and how changing socio-demographic factors shape their preferences. Methods: We fielded a structured questionnaire that included a discrete choice experiment to investigate women’s preferences for place of delivery care in four rural districts of Pwani Region, Tanzania. The discrete choice experiment […]

Malaria and Fetal Growth Alterations in the 3^rd Trimester of Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Ultrasound Study

Background: Pregnancy associated malaria is associated with decreased birth weight, but in-utero evaluation of fetal growth alterations is rarely performed. The objective of this study was to investigate malaria induced changes in fetal growth during the 3rd trimester using trans-abdominal ultrasound. Methods: An observational study of 876 pregnant women (398 primi- and secundigravidae and 478 […]

Iron status of Kenyan pregnant women after adjusting for inflammation using brinda regression analysis and other correction methods

Serum ferritin concentration is the preferred biomarker to assess population iron status in the absence of inflammation. Interpretation of this biomarker is complicated in populations with a high burden of infection, however, because inflammation increases serum ferritin concentration independently of iron status. We aimed to compare estimates of iron status of Kenyan pregnant women, with […]

Assessment of Malawi’s success in child mortality reduction through the lens of the Catalytic Initiative integrated health systems strengthening programme: Retrospective evaluation

Background Malawi is estimated to have achieved its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 target. This paper explores factors influencing progress in child survival in Malawi including coverage of interventions and the role of key national policies. Methods We performed a retrospective evaluation of the Catalytic Initiative (CI) programme of support (2007-2013). We developed estimates of […]

Is quality of care a key predictor of perinatal health care utilization and patient satisfaction in Malawi?

Background: The Malawi government encourages early antenatal care, delivery in health facilities, and timely postnatal care. Efforts to sustain or increase current levels of perinatal service utilization may not achieve desired gains if the quality of care provided is neglected. This study examined predictors of perinatal service utilization and patients’ satisfaction with these services with […]

The association between travel time to health facilities and childhood vaccine coverage in rural Ethiopia. A community based cross sectional study

Background: Few studies have examined associations between access to health care and childhood vaccine coverage in remote communities that lack motorised transport. This study assessed whether travel time to health facilities was associated with childhood vaccine coverage in a remote area of Ethiopia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data from 775 children aged […]