Impact of a 15-month multi-channel continuous distribution pilot on ITN ownership and access in Eastern Region, Ghana
Background: Insecticide-treated nets are a key intervention for malaria prevention. While mass distribution can rapidly scale up ITN coverage, multiple channels may be needed to sustain high levels of ITN access and ownership. In Ghana’s Eastern Region, a continuous ITN distribution pilot, started in October 2012, 18-24 months after a mass campaign. The pilot distributed […]
Determinants of attending antenatal care at least four times in rural Ghana: analysis of a cross-sectional survey
Background: Improving maternal health is a global challenge. In Ghana, maternal morbidity and mortality rates remain high, particularly in rural areas. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance is known to improve maternal health. However, few studies have updated current knowledge regarding determinants of ANC attendance. Objective: This study examined factors associated with ANC attendance in predominantly rural […]
Initiation of traditional birth attendants and their traditional and spiritual practices during pregnancy and childbirth in Ghana
Background: Prior to the advent of modern obstetric services, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have rendered services to pregnant women and women in labour for a long time. Although it is anticipated that women in contemporary societies will give birth in hospitals and clinics, some women still patronize the services of TBAs. The study therefore sought […]
Increasing access to care for sick newborns: Evidence from the Ghana Newhints cluster-randomised controlled trial
Objectives To evaluate the impact of Newhints community-based surveillance volunteer (CBSV) assessments and referrals on access to care for sick newborns and on existing inequities in access. Design We evaluated a prospective cohort nested within the Newhints cluster-randomised controlled trial. Setting Community-based intervention involving more than 750 000, predominantly rural, population in seven contiguous districts […]
What’s normal? Oligosaccharide concentrations and profiles in milk produced by healthy women vary geographically
Background: Human milk is a complex fluid comprised of myriad substances, with one of the most abundant substances being a group of complex carbohydrates referred to as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). There has been some evidence that HMO profiles differ in populations, but few studies have rigorously explored this variability. Objectives: We tested the hypothesis […]
Comparative study of the effect of National Health Insurance Scheme on use of delivery and antenatal care services between rural and urban women in Ghana
Background: Despite the focus of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to bridge healthcare utilisation gap among women in Ghana, recent evidence indicates that most maternal deaths still occur from rural Ghana. The objective of this study was to examine the rural-urban differences in the effects of NHIS enrolment on delivery care utilisation (place of […]
Maternal and child supplementation with lipid-based nutrient supplements, but not child supplementation alone, decreases self-reported household food insecurity in some settings
Background: It is unknown whether self-reported measures of household food insecurity change in response to foodbased nutrient supplementation. Objective: We assessed the impacts of providing lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) to women during pregnancy and postpartum and/or to their children on self-reported household food insecurity in Malawi [DOSE and DYAD trial in Malawi (DYAD-M)], Ghana [DYAD […]
Cost of installing and operating an electronic clinical decision support system for maternal health care: Case of Tanzania rural primary health centres
Background: Poor quality of care is among the causes of high maternal and newborn disease burden in Tanzania. Potential reason for poor quality of care is the existence of a “know-do gap” where by health workers do not perform to the best of their knowledge. An electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) for maternal health […]
Factors influencing health facility delivery in predominantly rural communities across the three ecological zones in Ghana: A cross-sectional study
Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality indicators remain high in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries. Both maternal and neonatal health outcomes improve when skilled personnel provide delivery services within health facilities. Determinants of delivery location are crucial to promoting health facility deliveries, but little research has been done on this issue in Ghana. This study […]
Low utilization of insecticide-treated bed net among pregnant women in the middle belt of Ghana
Background. Malaria in pregnancy leads to low birth weight, premature birth, anaemia, and maternal and neonatalmortality. Use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) during pregnancy is one of the proven interventions to reduce themalaria burden. However, Ghana has not achieved its target for ITN use among pregnant women. Methods. A qualitative study was conducted in seven communities […]
