HIV viral load assays when used with whole blood perform well as a diagnostic assay for infants
Objective Over the past several years, only approximately 50% of HIV-exposed infants received an early infant diagnosis test within the first two months of life. While high attrition and mortality account for some of the shortcomings in identifying HIV-infected infants early and putting them on life-saving treatment, fragmented and challenging laboratory systems are an added […]
Healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities from two population-based cohort studies in Ghana
Objective This study assessed healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities and families of infants with acute illnesses in rural Ghana. Design Two population-based cohort studies. Setting Brong Ahafo Region of central rural Ghana. Participants A total of 22 955 infants enrolled in a large population-based trial (Neovita trial) from 16 August […]
Male partners’ participation in birth preparedness and complication readiness in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Maternal and neonatal health outcomes remain a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite priority given to involving male partners in birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR). Men in LMICs often determine women’s access to and affordability of health services. This systematic review and meta-analysis determined the pooled magnitude of male partner’s participation […]
Implementing facility-based kangaroo mother care services: Lessons from a multi-country study in Africa
Background: Some countries have undertaken programs that included scaling up kangaroo mother care. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the implementation status of facility-based kangaroo mother care services in four African countries: Malawi, Mali, Rwanda and Uganda. Methods. A cross-sectional, mixed-method research design was used. Stakeholders provided background information at national meetings […]
Acceptability and Feasibility of a Low-Cost Device for Gestational Age Assessment in a Low-Resource Setting: Qualitative Study
Background: Ultrasound for gestational age (GA) assessment is not routinely available in resource-constrained settings, particularly in rural and remote locations. The TraCer device combines a handheld wireless ultrasound probe and a tablet with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software that obtains GA from videos of the fetal head by automated measurements of the fetal transcerebellar diameter and […]
Determinants of maternal near-miss in morocco: Too late, too far, too sloppy?
Background In Morocco, there is little information on the circumstances surrounding maternal near misses. This study aimed to determine the incidence, characteristics, and determinants of maternal near misses in Morocco. Method A prospective case-control study was conducted at 3 referral maternity hospitals in the Marrakech region of Morocco between February and July 2012. Near-miss cases […]
Global patterns of mortality in international migrants: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: 258 million people reside outside their country of birth; however, to date no global systematic reviews or meta-analyses of mortality data for these international migrants have been done. We aimed to review and synthesise available mortality data on international migrants. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, […]
Geographical Accessibility to District Hospitals/Medical Laboratories for Comprehensive Antenatal Point-of-Care Diagnostic Services in the Upper East Region, Ghana
Background: Access to referral healthcare facilities from primary healthcare (PHC) clinics for diagnostic services is critical for improving maternal health outcomes. We described the geographical distribution and accessibility to district hospitals/medical laboratories for comprehensive antenatal point-of-care (POC) diagnostic services in the Upper East region (UER), Ghana. Methods: We assembled detailed spatial data on 100 participated […]
Associations between WASH-related violence and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls and young women in South Africa (HPTN 068): a cross-sectional analysis
Objective There is a lack of research on experiences of WASH-related violence. This study aims to quantify the association between experience or worry of violence when using the toilet or collecting water and depressive symptoms among a cohort of young women in South Africa. Methods Data are from visit 3 of the HPTN 068 cohort […]
Prevalence of malaria infection in pregnant women compared with children for tracking malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: In malarious areas, pregnant women are more likely to have detectable malaria than are their non-pregnant peers, and the excess risk of infection varies with gravidity. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinic for their first visit are a potential pragmatic sentinel group to track the intensity of malaria transmission; however, the relation between malaria prevalence […]
