Effect of a novel vital sign device on maternal mortality and morbidity in low-resource settings: a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial
Background: In 2015, an estimated 303 000 women died in pregnancy and childbirth. Obstetric haemorrhage, sepsis, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy account for more than 50% of maternal deaths worldwide. There are effective treatments for these pregnancy complications, but they require early detection by measurement of vital signs and timely administration to save lives. The […]
The cost-effectiveness of using results-based financing to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in Malawi
Introduction Results-based financing (RBF) is being promoted to increase coverage and quality of maternal and perinatal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of RBF is limited. We assessed the cost-effectiveness within the context of an RBF intervention, including performance-based financing and conditional cash transfers, in rural Malawi. Methods We used a […]
Civil Society Organizations and medicines policy change: A case study of registration, procurement, distribution and use of misoprostol in Uganda
Misoprostol use for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) has been promoted by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) since the early 2000s. Yet, CSOs’ role in improving access to misoprostol and shaping health policy at global and national levels is not well understood. We document the introduction of misoprostol in Uganda in 2008 from its registration, addition to treatment […]
Geographical accessibility in assessing bypassing behaviour for inpatient neonatal care, Bungoma County-Kenya
Background: Neonatal mortality rate in Kenya continues to be unacceptably high. In reducing newborn deaths, inequality in access to care and quality care have been identified as current barriers. Contributing to these barriers are the bypassing behaviour and geographical access which leads to delay in seeking newborn care. This study (i) measured geographical accessibility of […]
Use of mobile phone consultations during home visits by Community Health Workers for maternal and newborn care: Community experiences from Masindi and Kiryandongo districts, Uganda Global health.
Background: Home visits by Community Health Workers [In Uganda Community Health Workers are given the collective term of Village Health Teams (VHTs). Hereafter referred to as VHTs] is recommended to improve maternal and newborn care. We investigated perceived maternal and newborn benefits of home visits made by VHTs, combined with mobile phone consultations with professional […]
Emerging Early Actions to Bend the Curve in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Nutrition Transition
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is the last region to undergo a nutrition transition and can still avoid its adverse health outcomes. Objective: The article explores emerging responses to €bend the curve€ in sub-Saharan Africa’s nutrition transition to steer public health outcomes onto a healthier trajectory. Methods: Early responses in 3 countries at different stages of food […]
Promoting dietary diversity to improve child growth in less-resourced rural settings in Uganda
Background: Analyses of global trends indicate that childhood undernutrition is more prevalent in rural areas, and also that maternal education and decision-making power are among the key factors significantly associated with child growth. Methods: The present study comprised a controlled longitudinal study aiming to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education with respect to improving growth […]
Quality care during labour and birth: A multi-country analysis of health system bottlenecks and potential solutions
Background: Good outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth are related to availability, utilisation and effective implementation of essential interventions for labour and childbirth. The majority of the estimated 289,000 maternal deaths, 2.8 million neonatal deaths and 2.6 million stillbirths every year could be prevented by improving access to and scaling up quality care during labour and […]
Covid-19 and health sector development plans in africa: The impact on maternal and child health outcomes in uganda
Introduction: Health Sector Development Plans (HSDPs) aim to accelerate movement towards achieving sustainable development goals for health, reducing inequalities, and end-ing poverty. Reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services are vulnerable to economic imbalances, including health insecurity, unmet need for healthcare, and low health expenditure. The same vulnerability influences the potential of a country […]
The use of facilities for labor and delivery: The views of women in rural Uganda
The aim of the paper is to explore factors associated with home or hospital delivery in rural Uganda. Qualitative interviews with recently-delivered women in rural Uganda and statistical analysis of data from the 2011 Ugandan Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to assess the association between socio-demographic and cultural factors and delivery location in multivariable regression […]
