Cell phone counseling improves retention of mothers with HIV infection in care and infant HIV testing in Kisumu, Kenya: A randomized controlled study
Background: We evaluated the effectiveness of a cell phone counseling intervention to promote retention in care and HIV testing of infants among women with HIV accessing prevention of mother-to-child services in Kisumu, Kenya. Methods: Between May 2013 and September 2015, we recruited 404 pregnant women with HIV who were between 14 and 36 weeks of […]
Low-dose aspirin for preventing intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia in sickle cell pregnancy (PIPSICKLE): A randomised controlled trial (study protocol)
Introduction Pregnancy in sickle cell disease is fraught with many complications including pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Previously, we found an abnormality in prostacyclin-thromboxane ratio in sickle cell pregnant women, a situation that is also found in non-sickle pregnancies with PE and unexplained IUGR. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) has been shown to reduce the […]
Knowledge and perceptions of preconception care among health workers and women of reproductive age in Mzuzu City, Malawi: a cross-sectional study
Background: Preconception care is one of the preventive strategies in maternal and new-born health as recommended by WHO. However, in sub-Saharan Africa there is poor preconception care practices. This study examined knowledge and perceptions of preconception care among health workers and women of reproductive age group in Mzuzu City, Malawi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study […]
Are birthweight and postnatal weight gain in childhood associated with blood pressure in early adolescence? Results from a Ugandan birth cohort
Background In Africa, where low birthweight (LBW), malnutrition and high blood pressure (BP) are prevalent, the relationships between birthweight (BW), weight gain and BP later in life remain uncertain. We examined the effects of early life growth on BP among Ugandan adolescents. Methods Data were collected prenatally from women and their offspring were followed from […]
Interruptions to HIV Care Delivery During Pandemics and Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Study of Challenges and Opportunities From Frontline Healthcare Providers in Western Kenya
During public health crises, people living with HIV (PLWH) may become disengaged from care. The goal of this study was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent flooding disasters on HIV care delivery in western Kenya. We conducted ten individual in-depth interviews with HIV providers across four health facilities. We used an […]
Derivation of a contextually-appropriate covid-19 mortality scale for low-resource settings
Background: In many low-and middle-income countries, where vaccinations will be delayed and healthcare systems are underdeveloped, the COVID-19 pandemic will continue for the foreseeable future. Mortality scales can aid frontline providers in low-resource settings (LRS) in identifying those at greatest risk of death so that limited resources can be directed towards those in greatest need […]
Management of abortion complications at a rural hospital in Uganda: A quality assessment by a partially completed criterion-based audit
Background: Complications of unsafe abortion are a major contributor to maternal deaths in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical assessment for life-threatening complications and the following management in women admitted with complications from abortions at a rural hospital in Uganda. Methods: A partially completed criterion-based audit was conducted comparing actual to optimal […]
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension among Women in Southern Ghana: Evidence from 2014 GDHS
Background. Hypertension, coupled with prehypertension and other hazards such as high blood pressure, is responsible for 8·5 million deaths from stroke, ischaemic heart disease, other vascular diseases, and renal disease worldwide. Hypertension is the fifth commonest cause of outpatient morbidity in Ghana. Some evidence have illustrated geographical variation in hypertension and it seems to have […]
Which Factors Predict Hospital Length-of-Stay for Children Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Ward? A Hospital-Based Prospective Study
Background. The ability to accurately predict hospital length of stay (LOS) or time to discharge could aid in resource planning, stimulate quality improvement activities, and provide evidence for future research and medical practice. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors of time to discharge among patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) […]
Medication Adherence Clubs: A potential solution to managing large numbers of stable patients with multiple chronic diseases in informal settlements
Objectives: To assess the care of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and/or HIV patients enrolled into Medication Adherence Clubs (MACs). Methods: Retrospective descriptive study was carried out using routinely collected programme data from a primary healthcare clinic at informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. All patients enrolled into MACs were selected for the study. MACs are nurse-facilitated mixed […]
