Prevalence of stillbirth and its associated factors in East Africa: generalized linear mixed modeling
Background: Stillbirth is the most frequently reported adverse pregnancy outcome worldwide, which imposes significant psychological and economic consequences to mothers and affected families. East African countries account for one-third of the 2.6 million stillbirths globally. Though stillbirth is a common public health problem in East African countries, there is limited evidence on the pooled prevalence […]
Incidence of infant mortality and its predictors in East Africa using Gompertz gamma shared frailty model
Background: Globally, infant mortality is a major public health concern and a sensitive indicator of countries’ socio-economic and health status. Despite the substantial reduction of under-five mortality in sub-Saharan African countries specifically in East Africa, the infant mortality rate remains highest and too far below to achieve the WHO target. As to our search of […]
Levels and correlates of non-adherence to WHO recommended inter-birth intervals in Rufiji, Tanzania
Background: Poorly spaced pregnancies have been documented worldwide to result in adverse maternal and child health outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum inter-birth interval of 33 months between two consecutive live births in order to reduce the risk of adverse maternal and child health outcomes. However, birth spacing practices in many developing […]
Psychosocial and environmental determinants of child cognitive development in rural south africa and tanzania: Findings from the mal-ed cohort
Background: Approximately 66% of children under the age of 5 in Sub-Saharan African countries do not reach their full cognitive potential, the highest percentage in the world. Because the majority of studies investigating child cognitive development have been conducted in high-income countries (HICs), there is limited knowledge regarding the determinants of child development in low- […]
Kinship and similarity drive coordination of breeding-group choice in male spotted hyenas
When and where animals reproduce influences the social, demographic and genetic properties of the groups and populations they live in. We examined the extent to which male spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) coordinate their breeding-group choice. We tested whether their propensity to settle in the same group is shaped by passive processes driven by similarities in […]
Factors associated with health facility childbirth in districts of Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia: A population based survey
Background: Maternal mortality continues to be a heavy burden in low and middle income countries where half of all deliveries take place in homes without skilled attendance. The study aimed to investigate the underlying and proximate determinants of health facility childbirth in rural and urban areas of three districts in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.Methods: A […]
Associations between gestational anthropometry, maternal HIV, and fetal and early infancy growth in a prospective rural/semi-rural Tanzanian cohort, 2012-13
Background: Healthcare access and resources differ considerably between urban and rural settings making cross-setting generalizations difficult. In resource-restricted rural/semi-rural environments, identification of feasible screening tools is a priority. The objective of this study was to evaluate gestational anthropometry in relation to birth and infant growth in a rural/semi-rural Tanzanian prospective cohort of mothers and their […]
Men in maternal health: An analysis of men’s views and knowledge on, and challenges to, involvement in antenatal care services in a Tanzanian community in Dodoma Region
Promoting men’s involvement in antenatal care (ANC) requires an understanding of their views on how they ought to be involved. Their involvement in ANC services can help in reducing delay in deciding to seek care and facilitate women’s access to skilled antenatal services. This study sought to determine men’s views and knowledge on, and challenges […]
Mobile-based Vaccine Registry to Improve Collection and Completeness of Maternal Immunization Data
Immunization during pregnancy and infancy significantly reduces morbidity and mortality of mothers, unborn fetuses, and young infants. Several studies show the merits of getting complete, quality, and accurate data on time to enhance policy and decision-making for society or country development. Despite the efforts by nations to ensure the success of maternal immunization through electronic […]
Estimating the public health burden associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes resulting from syphilis infection across 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Background: Untreated syphilis in pregnancy is associated with adverse clinical outcomes to the infant. The study aimed to estimate the public health burden resulting from adverse pregnancy outcomes due to syphilis infection among pregnant women not screened for syphilis in 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Estimated country-specific incidence of syphilis was generated from annual […]
