Performance-based financing empowers health workers delivering prevention of vertical transmission of HIV services and decreases desire to leave in Mozambique
Background: Despite increased access to treatment and reduced incidence, vertical transmission of HIV continues to pose a risk to maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa. Performance-based financing (PBF) directed at healthcare providers has shown potential to improve quantity and quality of maternal and child health services. However, the ways in which these PBF initiatives […]
Eliciting women’s preferences for place of child birth at a peri-urban setting in Nairobi, Kenya: A discrete choice experiment
Objective Maternal and newborn mortality rates are high in peri-urban areas in cities in Kenya, yet little is known about what drives women’s decisions on where to deliver. This study aimed at understanding women’s preferences on place of childbirth and how sociodemographic factors shape these preferences. Methods This study used a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) […]
Herpes simplex virus type 2, genital ulcers and HIV-1 disease progression in postpartum women
Background: Co-infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) has been associated with increased HIV-1 RNA levels and immune activation, two predictors of HIV-1 progression. The impact of HSV-2 on clinical outcomes among HIV-1 infected pregnant women is unclear. Methods: HIV-1 infected pregnant women in Nairobi were enrolled antenatally and HSV-2 serology was obtained. HIV-1 […]
Predictors of post neonatal mortality in Western Kenya: A cohort study
Introduction: to determine the predictors of mortality in infants in Siaya, western Kenya, ahead of novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccine trials in the same population. Methods: in a study to determine tuberculosis incidence, 2900 infants aged 0-45 days, weighing ≥ 1700g were enrolled. Four monthly follow up visits were conducted for at least 12 months. HIV […]
The economic toll of COVID-19: A cohort study of prevalence and economic factors associated with postpartum depression in Kenya
Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) among women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to women who delivered before the COVID-19 pandemic and how economic challenges are associated with PPD. Methods: Data were collected from 2332 women. This includes 1197 women from healthcare facilities in […]
Existence and functionality of emergency obstetric care services at district level in Kenya: Theoretical coverage versus reality
Background: The knowledge on emergency obstetric care (EmOC) is limited in Kenya, where only partial data from sub-national studies exist. The EmOC process indicators have also not been integrated into routine health management information system to monitor progress in safe motherhood interventions both at national and lower levels of the health system. In a country […]
Using research to influence sexual and reproductive health practice and implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case-study analysis
Background: Research institutions and donor organizations are giving growing attention to how research evidence is communicated to influence policy. In the area of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV there is less weight given to understanding how evidence is successfully translated into practice. Policy issues in SRH can be controversial, influenced by political factors […]
Acceptability and feasibility of community-based provision of urine pregnancy tests to support linkages to reproductive health services in Western Kenya: a qualitative analysis
Background: The majority of women living in rural Kenya access antenatal care (ANC) late in pregnancy, and approximately 20% have an unmet need for family planning (FP). This study aimed to determine whether training community health volunteers (CHVs) to deliver urine pregnancy testing (UPT), post-test counselling, and referral to care was an acceptable and feasible […]
Prevalence and risk factors of neurological impairment among children aged 6-9 years: From population based cross sectional study in western Kenya
Background: The burden of disability is more severe among children in low income countries. Moreover, the number of children with disabilities (CWDs) in sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to increase with reduction in child mortality. Although the issue on CWDs is important in sub-Saharan Africa, there are few researches on risk factors of disabilities. The purpose […]
Piloting a systems level intervention to improve cervical cancer screening, treatment and follow up in Kenya
Although preventable, Cervical Cancer (CC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Sub-Saharan Africa with the highest incidence in East Africa. Kenyan guidelines recommend an immediate screen and treat approach using either Pap smear or visual screening methods. However, system (e.g., inadequate infrastructure, weak treatment, referral and tracking systems) and patient (e.g., […]
