Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022
Background: Various regulatory authorities are experiencing backlogs of applications which result in delayed access to medicines for patients. The objective of this study is to critically assess the registration process utilised by SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 and determine the fundamental root causes for the formation of a backlog. The study also aims to detail […]
perspectives on financing population-based health care towards Universal Health Coverage among employed individuals in Ghanzi district, Botswana: A qualitative study
Background: Globally, about 150 million people experience catastrophic healthcare expenditure services annually. Among low and middle income countries, out-of-pocket expenditure pushes about 100 million people into poverty annually. In Botswana, 83 % of the general population and 58 % of employed individuals do not have medical aid coverage. Moreover, inequity allocation of financial resources between […]
Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: An analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Background: The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of “leaving no one behind”. Understanding today’s gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 […]
An assessment of geographical access and factors influencing travel time to emergency obstetric care in the urban state of Lagos, Nigeria
Previous efforts to estimate the travel time to comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have either been based on spatial models or self-reported travel time, both with known inaccuracies. The study objectives were to estimate more realistic travel times for pregnant women in emergency situations using Google Maps, determine system-level […]
Do antenatal care visits always contribute to facility-based delivery in Tanzania? A study of repeated cross-sectional data
There is a known high disparity in access to perinatal care services between urban and rural areas in Tanzania. This study analysed repeated cross-sectional (RCS) data from Tanzania to explore the relationship between antenatal care (ANC) visits, facility-based delivery and the reasons for home births in women who had made ANC visits. We used data […]
Mobile phones improve antenatal care attendance in Zanzibar: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Background: Applying mobile phones in healthcare is increasingly prioritized to strengthen healthcare systems. Antenatal care has the potential to reduce maternal morbidity and improve newborns’ survival but this benefit may not be realized in sub-Saharan Africa where the attendance and quality of care is declining. We evaluated the association between a mobile phone intervention and […]
Antenatal depressive symptoms and utilisation of delivery and postnatal care: A prospective study in rural Ethiopia
Background: Uptake of delivery and postnatal care remains low in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where 99% of global maternal deaths take place. However, the potential impact of antenatal depression on use of institutional delivery and postnatal care has seldom been examined. This study aimed to examine whether antenatal depressive symptoms are associated with use […]
Effects of early feeding on growth velocity and overweight/obesity in a cohort of HIV unexposed South African infants and children
Background: South Africa has the highest prevalence of overweight/obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Assessing the effect of modifiable factors such as early infant feeding on growth velocity and overweight/obesity is therefore important. This paper aimed to assess the effect of infant feeding in the transitional period (12 weeks) on 12-24 week growth velocity amongst HIV unexposed […]
Diabetes, Hypertension, and Comorbidity among Bangladeshi Adults: Associated Factors and Socio-Economic Inequalities
Diabetes, hypertension, and comorbidity are still crucial public health challenges that Bangladeshis face. Nonetheless, very few studies have been conducted to examine the associated factors, especially the socioeconomic inequalities in diabetes, hypertension, and comorbidity in Bangladesh. This study explored the prevalence of, factors connected with, and socioeconomic inequalities in diabetes, hypertension, and comorbidity among Bangladeshi […]
Implications of ethiopian productive safety net programme on household dietary diversity and women’s body mass index: A cross-sectional study
Introduction: Poor nutritional status of women remains a critical problem in Ethiopia. Nutrition for women matters not only for the public health relevance of breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition but for its high return in other sectors such as education and health. The Ethiopian Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) is a program that protects […]
