Scale matters: A cost-outcome analysis of an m-health intervention in Malawi
Background: The primary objectives of this study are to determine cost per user and cost per contact with users of a mobile health (m-health) intervention. The secondary objectives are to map costs to changes in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) and to estimate costs of alternate implementation and usage scenarios. Materials and Methods: A […]
Factors affecting birth preparedness and complication readiness in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis
Introduction: birth preparedness and complication readiness have been considered as comprehensive strategy aimed at promoting the timely utilization of skilled maternal health care. However, its status and affecting factors have not been well studied at different levels in the study area. Thus, this study was aimed to fill this gap by conducting community based study. […]
Evaluating Religious Influences on the Utilization of Maternal Health Services among Muslim and Christian Women in North-Central Nigeria
Introduction. Uptake of antenatal services is low in Nigeria; however, indicators in the Christian-dominated South have been better than in the Muslim-dominated North. This study evaluated religious influences on utilization of general and HIV-related maternal health services among women in rural and periurban North-Central Nigeria. Materials and Methods. Targeted participants were HIV-positive, pregnant, or of […]
Inequalities in adherence to the continuum of maternal and child health service utilization in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis
Background: Despite progress made to improve access to child health services, mothers’ consistent utilization of these services has been constrained by several factors. This study is aimed at assessing the inequalities in key child health service utilization and assess the role of antenatal care (ANC) on subsequent service use. Method: The analysis of the present […]
What prevents pregnant women from adhering to the continuum of maternal care? Evidence on interrelated mechanisms from a cohort study in Kenya
Objectives To examine the determinants of the continuum of maternal care from an integrated perspective, focusing on how key components of an adequate journey are interrelated. Design A facility-based prospective cohort study. Setting 25 health facilities across three counties of Kenya: Nairobi, Kisumu and Kakamega. Participants A total of 5 879 low-income pregnant women aged […]
Early life factors and their relevance to intimamedia thickness of the common carotid artery in early adulthood
Background Early life factors may predispose an offspring to cardiovascular disease in later life; relevance of these associations may extend to “healthy” people in Western populations. We examined the prospective associations between early life factors and adult carotid intimamedia thickness (IMT), a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, in a healthy German population. Methods We studied term […]
Seasonality of antenatal care attendance, maternal dietary intake, and fetal growth in the VHEMBE birth cohort, South Africa
Background Seasonality of food availability, physical activity, and infections commonly occurs within rural communities in low and middle-income countries with distinct rainy seasons. To better understand the implications of these regularly occurring environmental stressors for maternal and child health, this study examined seasonal variation in nutrition and health care access of pregnant women and infants […]
On measuring and decomposing inequality of opportunity in access to health services among Tunisian children: A new approach for public policy
Background: The early years in children’s life are the key to physical, cognitive-language, and, socio-emotional skills development. So, it is of paramount importance in this period to be interested in different indicators that would influence the child’s health. Methods: This paper measures inequality of opportunities among Tunisian children concerning access to nutritional and healthy services […]
Management of post abortion complications in Botswana -The need for a standardized approach
Background Post abortion complications are the third leading cause of maternal death after hemorrhage and hypertension in Botswana where abortion is not legalized. This study aimed at assessing the management of post abortion complications in Botswana. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at four hospitals in Botswana in 2014. Socio-demo-graphic, patient management and outcomes data […]
Prevalence and predictive determinants of adherence to vaccination against COVID-19 among mothers who gave birth in the last two years in Morocco
Background and aim: Vaccination against COVID-19 was one of the most important resolute to stop the spread of the pandemic; however, its acceptance was controversial especially by pregnant and lactating women. This study aims to assess the prevalence of vaccination among participants as well as to explore the determinants of reluctance or adherence to vaccination […]
