Epidemiology of congenital anomalies of the central nervous system in children in Enugu, Nigeria: A retrospective study
Background: Congenital anomalies, including those of the central nervous system (CNS), are among the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and fetal loss. Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of CNS congenital anomalies in children. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study of children managed with CNS anomalies was undertaken. Relevant clinical data of identified cases […]
Accelerating improvements in nutritional and health status of young children in the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of international guidelines on infant and young child feeding and nutrition
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child holds governments responsible to ensure children’s right to the highest attainable standard of health by providing breastfeeding support, and access to nutritious foods, appropriate health care, and clean drinking water. International experts have identified key child care practices and programmatic activities that are proven to […]
Development of a district mental healthcare plan in Uganda
Background Evidence is needed for the integration of mental health into primary care advocated by the national health sector strategic investment plan in Uganda. Aims To describe the processes of developing a district mental healthcare plan (MHCP) in rural Uganda that facilitates integration of mental health into primary care. Method Mixed methods using a situational […]
Persistent barriers to the use of maternal, newborn and child health services in Garissa sub-county, Kenya: A qualitative study
Background: North Eastern Kenya has persistently had poor maternal, new-born and child health (MNCH) indicators. Barriers to access and utilisation of MNCH services are structural, individual and community-level factors rooted in sociocultural norms. A package of interventions was designed and implemented in Garissa sub-County aimed at creating demand for services. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) were […]
Intra-facility linkage of HIV-positive mothers and HIV-exposed babies into HIV chronic care: Rural and urban experience in a resource limited setting
Introduction: Linkage of HIV-infected pregnant women to HIV care remains critical for improvement of maternal and child outcomes through prevention of maternal-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and subsequent chronic HIV care. This study determined proportions and factors associated with intra-facility linkage to HIV care and Early Infant Diagnosis care (EID) to inform strategic scale up […]
Effects of dietary and health factors on nutritional status of children in pastoral settings in Borana, southern Ethiopia, August–October 2015
Background: Childhood undernourishment is a major public health problem globally, and being responsible for higher mortalities in children and enormous health costs in sub-Saharan Africa. However, scarcity of data on the magnitude of malnutrition and its underlying causes, especially in the pastoral system, limits the effectiveness of potential interventions. This study addresses the nutritional status […]
Household food (in)security and nutritional status of urban poor children aged 6 to 23 months in Kenya Global health
Background: Millions of people in low and low middle income countries suffer from extreme hunger and malnutrition. Research on the effect of food insecurity on child nutrition is concentrated in high income settings and has produced mixed results. Moreover, the existing evidence on food security and nutrition in children in low and middle income countries […]
Drought and child undernutrition in Ethiopia: A longitudinal path analysis
Background The increase in the frequency of extreme events due to climate change poses a serious challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger by 2030. While evidence exists on the impact of drought on under-five children, its effect during late childhood and early adolescence remains less investigated. Objective This study estimates […]
Adherence to prenatal iron-folic acid supplementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC): A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Daily iron-folic acid supplementation reduces anemia and various adverse obstetric outcomes such as preterm delivery, low birthweight, hemorrhage, and perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. However, its supplementation has not been successful that attributed to several determinants including poor adherence. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and […]
Timing of first antenatal care contact, its associated factors and state-level analysis in Nigeria: a cross-sectional assessment of compliance with the WHO guidelines
OBJECTIVES: To assess the compliance of WHO guidelines on the timeliness of antenatal care (ANC) initiation in Nigeria and its associated factors and to provide subcountry analysis of disparities in the timing of the first ANC in Nigeria. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Nationally representative data of most recent pregnancies between 2013 and 2018 in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: […]
