Prevalence of Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in a Public General Hospital, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study Design
Background. Undernutrition is a global health problem, particularly in pregnant women. Despite the limited studies performed in different parts of Ethiopia, the information about the prevalence of undernutrition of pregnant women in the current study area is not documented. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors in pregnant women. […]
Users’ perspectives on the quality of family planning services in Mozambique: a case study
Introduction: user satisfaction assessment has been increasingly important in ensuring health care quality and guidance in the health sector. Africa is the region in the world with the lowest prevalence of contraception use. Universal access to family planning has one of the highest rates of benefits for cost among strategic options for development. Family planning […]
Effect of postpartum depression on exclusive breast-feeding practices in sub-Saharan Africa countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mood disorder that affects behavioural, physical and mental health of women and newborn after childbirth. Although a wide range of research have been conducted on maternal and infant health outcomes, the effect of postpartum depression on exclusive breastfeeding practices remains ambiguous, and needs addressing. The aim of this […]
Assessment of Midwife Knowledge, Practice, and Associated Factors towards Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor at Governmental Health Institutions in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia, 2018
Introduction. Globally, postpartum hemorrhage is the most common cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, and it accounts for more than 25% of all maternal deaths. The majority of death due to postpartum hemorrhage is caused by uterine atony. Routine and correct usage of active management of the third stage of labor decreases the occurrence of […]
Providers adherence to essential contents of antenatal care services increases birth weight in Bahir Dar City Administration, north West Ethiopia: A prospective follow up study
Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the most important factors affecting child morbidity and mortality worldwide. Antenatal care (ANC) is an opportunity for reaching pregnant women with a number of interventions that may be vital to their health and well-being of their infants. However, data on the link between ANC quality and LBW […]
Neonatal mortality and associated factors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional population-based study
Background: The neonatal period is the most critical time of human life for diseases. Neonatal morbidity and mortality are significant contributors to under-five morbidity and mortality in a low-income country like Ethiopia. Women are one of the key actors for the improvement of maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare utilization. However, there’s no evidence on the […]
Immunization status of children aged 12-23 months in Jonglei State, South Sudan: a cross-sectional epidemiologic study
Introduction: the immunization program focuses on reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. The purpose of the study was to determine the state of immunization coverage of children aged 12-23 months in Jonglei State, South Sudan, and to identify the factors that contribute to the low immunization coverage. Methods: a cross-sectional epidemiologic study […]
Placental malaria is rare among zanzibari pregnant women who did not receive intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy
Zanzibar has transitioned from malaria control to the pre-elimination phase, and the continued need for intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) has been questioned. We conducted a prospective observational study to estimate placental malaria positivity rate among women who did not receive IPTp with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine. A convenience sample of pregnant women was enrolled from six […]
Social circumstances that drive early introduction of formula milk: An exploratory qualitative study in a peri-urban South African community
Breastfeeding is widely endorsed as the optimal strategy for feeding newborns and young infants, as well as improving child survival and achieving Millennium Development Goal 4. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life is rarely practised in South Africa. Following the 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) infant feeding recommendations (EBF for HIV-positive […]
Understanding variations in health insurance coverage in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania: Evidence from demographic and health surveys
Background Realisation of universal health coverage is not possible without health financing systems that ensure financial risk protection. To ensure this, some African countries have instituted health insurance schemes as venues for ensuring universal access to health care for their populace. In this paper, we examined variations in health insurance coverage in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, […]
