PROTEA, A Southern African Multicenter Congenital Heart Disease Registry and Biorepository: Rationale, Design, and Initial Results
Objectives: The PartneRships in cOngeniTal hEart disease (PROTEA) project aims to establish a densely phenotyped and genotyped Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) cohort for southern Africa. This will facilitate research into the epidemiology and genetic determinants of CHD in the region. This paper introduces the PROTEA project, characterizes its initial cohort, from the Western Cape Province […]
Gender roles, family relationships, and household food and nutrition security in Ohafia matrilineal society in Nigeria
This study examined gender roles, family relationships, food security, and nutritional status of households in Ohafia: a matrilineal society in Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 287 households from three villages: Akanu, Amangwu, and Elu. Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were adopted, namely, focus group discussions […]
Maternal perceptions and concerns about children’s weight status and diet quality: a study among Black immigrant families
Objective: To identify factors influencing Black immigrant mothers’ perceptions and concerns about child weight and to compare children’s diet quality according to these perceptions and concerns. Design: Mothers’ perceptions and concerns about child weight were assessed with sex-specific figure rating scales and the Child Feeding Questionnaire, respectively. Participants’ weights and heights were measured and characterised […]
Periconceptional multiple-micronutrient supplementation and placental function in rural Gambian women: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Background: Maternal micronutrient deficiencies are commonly associated with clinical indicators of placental dysfunction. Objective: We tested the hypothesis that periconceptional multiplemicronutrient supplementation (MMS) affects placental function. Design: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of MMS in 17- to 45-y-old Gambian women who were menstruating regularly and within the previous 3 mo. Eligible subjects were […]
Providers adherence to essential contents of antenatal care services increases birth weight in Bahir Dar City Administration, north West Ethiopia: A prospective follow up study
Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the most important factors affecting child morbidity and mortality worldwide. Antenatal care (ANC) is an opportunity for reaching pregnant women with a number of interventions that may be vital to their health and well-being of their infants. However, data on the link between ANC quality and LBW […]
Understanding variations in health insurance coverage in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania: Evidence from demographic and health surveys
Background Realisation of universal health coverage is not possible without health financing systems that ensure financial risk protection. To ensure this, some African countries have instituted health insurance schemes as venues for ensuring universal access to health care for their populace. In this paper, we examined variations in health insurance coverage in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, […]
Assessment of the impact of family physicians in the district health system of the Western Cape, South Africa
Background: In 2007, South Africa made family medicine a new speciality. Family physicians that have trained for this new speciality have been employed in the district health system since 2011. The aim of the present study was to explore the perceptions of district managers on the impact of family physicians on clinical processes, health system […]
Extent of received antenatal care components in ethiopia: A community-based panel study
Purpose: This study aimed to identify the extent of antenatal care content received and associated factors among Ethiopian women. Methods: A nationally representative Performance Monitoring for Action 2020 Ethiopian data were used. A multistage cluster sampling design was used to select 2855 pregnant or recently postpartum women nested within 217 enumeration areas. Female resident enumera-tors […]
Lopinavir/ritonavir-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) versus efavirenz-based ART for the prevention of malaria among HIV-infected pregnant women
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women are at increased risk of malaria and its complications. In vitro and in vivo data suggest that the HIV protease inhibitors lopinavir/ritonavir may have potent antimalarial activity. We sought to evaluate whether lopinavir/ritonavir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduced the risk of placental malaria. Methods: HIV-infected, ART-naive pregnant women were […]
Effect of a maternal and newborn health system quality improvement project on the use of facilities for childbirth: a cluster-randomised study in rural Tanzania
Objectives: Reduction in maternal and newborn mortality requires that women deliver in high quality health facilities. However, many facilities provide sub-optimal quality of care, which may be a reason for less than universal facility utilisation. We assessed the impact of a quality improvement project on facility utilisation for childbirth. Methods: In this cluster-randomised experiment in […]
