Protein restriction in pregnant- and lactating rats-induced oxidative stress and hypohomocysteinaemia in their offspring
Hyperhomocyteinaemia has been associated with pathological and stressful conditions and considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Maternal protein restriction during late pregnancy and postnatal period is a stressful state to their offspring which is associated with disruption of various physiological processes. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of […]
Home birth attendants in low income countries: who are they and what do they do?
Background: Nearly half the world’s babies are born at home. We sought to evaluate the training, knowledge, skills, and access to medical equipment and testing for home birth attendants across 7 international sites.Methods: Face-to-face interviews were done by trained interviewers to assess level of training, knowledge and practices regarding care during the antenatal, intrapartum and […]
Barriers to obstetric care among maternal near-misses
Background. There are several factors in the healthcare system that may influence a woman’s ability to access appropriate obstetric care. Objective. To determine the delays/barriers in providing obstetric care to women who classified as a maternal near-miss. Methods. This was a descriptive observational study at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Pretoria, […]
Reduced maternal mortality in Tunisia and voluntary commitment to gender-related concerns
Objective: To estimate the number and causes of maternal deaths in Tunisia from 1999 to 2007, and compare the results with the last report (1993-1994). Methods: Data on all deaths of women of reproductive age in the public (1999-2007) and private (2006 only) health sectors were collected and assessed for whether the death was due […]
Poor coverage and quality for poor women: Inequalities in quality antenatal care in nine East African countries
The use of quality antenatal care (ANC) improves maternal and newborn health outcomes. Ensuring equity in access to quality maternal health services is a priority agenda in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess inequalities in the use of quality ANC in nine East African countries using the most recent Demographic and Health […]
Cost effectiveness of medical devices to diagnose pre-eclampsia in low-resource settings
Background Maternal mortality remains a major health challenge facing developing countries, with pre-eclampsia accounting for up to 17% of maternal deaths. Diagnosis requires skilled health providers and devices that are appropriate for low-resource settings. This study presents the first cost-effectiveness analysis of multiple medical devices used to diagnose pre-eclampsia in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). […]
The rate and perioperative mortality of caesarean section in Sierra Leone
Introduction Sierra Leone has the world’s highest maternal mortality, partly due to low access to caesarean section. Limited data are available to guide improvement. In this study, we aimed to analyse the rate and mortality of caesarean sections in the country. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of all caesarean sections and all reported in-facility […]
Obstetric outcomes and antenatal access among adolescent pregnancies in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Pregnancy among adolescents in South Africa is a growing concern as it may be associated with adverse socioeconomic and health impacts. Timeous initiation and optimal utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) services is imperative to ensure positive pregnancy outcomes. However, this is not always possible owing to various challenges. Methods: A multi-method study design using […]
Trends in Concurrent Maternal and Perinatal Deaths at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana: The Facts and Prevention Strategies
Objectives: To determine the trend of concurrent maternal and perinatal mortality at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana, and to propose measures for its prevention.Methods: A retrospective study, from January 1995 to December 2002, of all concurrent maternal and perinatal deaths in which the woman was 28 weeks’ gestation or more (or, if gestational age […]
Retrospective review of maternal deaths in Hawassa Comprehensive Specialised Hospital, in Southern Ethiopia
The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of and contributors to maternal death at Hawassa Referral Comprehensive Specialised Hospital (HRCSH). A health facility–based, maternal death review was used. All maternal deaths that occurred between January 2016 and August 2017 in HRCSH were included. Data were collected using a structured data collection sheet […]
