Improving health literacy through group antenatal care: A prospective cohort study
Background: To examine whether exposure to group antenatal care increased women’s health literacy by improving their ability to interpret and utilize health messages compared to women who received standard, individual antenatal care in Ghana. Methods: We used a prospective cohort design. The setting was a busy urban district hospital in Kumasi, the second most populous […]
Placental peptides metabolism and maternal factors as predictors of risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women. A case-control study
Background: Gestational diabetes is a risk factor for perinatal complications; include shoulder dystocia, birth injuries such as bone fractures and nerve palsies. It is associated with later development of type 2 diabetes, the risk of macrosomia and other long-term health effects of infants born to diabetic mothers. The study assesses placental peptides and maternal factors […]
Non-inferiority of low-dose compared to standard high-dose calcium supplementation in pregnancy: study protocol for two randomized, parallel group, non-inferiority trials in India and Tanzania
Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are important causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as preterm birth, the leading cause of death for children under 5 years globally. The World Health Organization currently recommends that pregnant women receive high-dose calcium supplementation (1500–2000 mg elemental calcium) for prevention of preeclampsia in populations with low dietary […]
Mind the gap: What explains the poor-non-poor inequalities in severe wasting among under-five children in low- And middle-income countries? Compositional and structural characteristics
A good understanding of the poor-non-poor gap in childhood development of severe wasting (SW) is a must in tackling the age-long critical challenge to health outcomes of vulnerable children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is a dearth of information about the factors explaining differentials in wealth inequalities in the distribution of SW in […]
Can a community health worker administered postnatal checklist increase health-seeking behaviors and knowledge?: Evidence from a randomized trial with a private maternity facility in Kiambu County, Kenya
Background: Since the 2009 WHO and UNICEF recommendation that women receive home-based postnatal care within the first three days after birth, a growing number of low-income countries have explored integrating postnatal home visit interventions into their maternal and newborn health strategies. This randomized trial evaluates a pilot program in which community health workers (CHWs) visit […]
Effect of Primary Health Care Expenditure on Universal Health Coverage: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
Background: Investment in primary health care (PHC) to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and better health outcomes remains a key global health agenda. This study aimed to assess the effects of PHC spending on UHC and health outcomes. Methods: The study used the Grossman Health Production Model and conducted econometric analyses using panel data from […]
Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements, with or without added zinc, do not cause excessive fat deposition in Burkinabe children: results from a cluster-randomized community trial
Purpose: Public health interventions to address stunting and wasting should be evaluated for possibly contributing to obesity risk. The present study tested the hypothesis that small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) might increase fat deposition, and that additional zinc provided via SQ-LNS or in the form of dispersible tablets would increase fat-free mass (FFM) accretion. Methods: […]
Better than nothing? Maternal, newborn, and child health services and perinatal mortality, Lubumbashi, democratic republic of the Congo: A cohort study
Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a high rate of perinatal mortality (PMR), and health measures that could reduce this high rate of mortality are not accessible to all women. Where they are in place, their quality is not optimal. This study was initiated to assess the relationship between these suboptimal maternal, newborn […]
Epidemiology of congenital anomalies of the central nervous system in children in Enugu, Nigeria: A retrospective study
Background: Congenital anomalies, including those of the central nervous system (CNS), are among the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and fetal loss. Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of CNS congenital anomalies in children. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study of children managed with CNS anomalies was undertaken. Relevant clinical data of identified cases […]
Improving emergency obstetric referral systems in low and middle income countries: A qualitative study in a tertiary health facility in Ghana
Background: Timely access to emergency obstetric care is crucial in preventing mortalities associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The referral of patients from lower levels of care to higher levels has been identified as an integral component of the health care delivery system in Ghana. To this effect, in 2012, the National Referral Policy and Guidelines […]
