The Health Extension Program and its association with change in utilization of selected maternal health services in tigray region, Ethiopia: A segmented linear regression analysis

Background: In 2003, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health established the Health Extension Program (HEP), with the goal of improving access to health care and health promotion activities in rural areas of the country. This paper aims to assess the association of the HEP with improved utilization of maternal health services in Northern Ethiopia using institution-based […]

Early childhood anemia in a birth cohort in coastal Kenya: Links to infection and nutrition

Anemia is known to impact a child’s growth and development, but not all anemias are caused by iron deficiency, and theCDCandWHOhave emphasized investigating other contributors to anemia. This cross-sectional substudy of a 2012-2016 maternal-child cohort in coastal Kenya evaluated 244 children and found 185 (76%) to have been anemic on at least one time point […]

Power dynamics as a determinant of access and utilization of nutrition services by pregnant and lactating adolescent girls in Trans-Mara East Sub-County, Narok County, Kenya

Background: During pregnancy or lactating, adequate nutrition for adolescents becomes critical to reduce risks for both child and maternal-related morbidity and mortality. Power dynamics play a massive role in health outcomes. The main objective of this study was to examine the power dynamics in the families and communities and their impact on the pregnant and […]

Equity in newborn care, evidence from national surveys in low- and middle-income countries

Background: High coverage of care is essential to improving newborn survival; however, gaps exist in access to timely and appropriate newborn care between and within countries. In high mortality burden settings, health inequities due to social and economic factors may also impact on newborn outcomes. This study aimed to examine equity in co-coverage of newborn care interventions […]

Home visits by community health workers in rural South Africa have a limited, but important impact on maternal and child health in the first two years of life

Background: More than 50% of Africa’s population lives in rural areas, which have few professional health workers. South Africa has adopted task shifting health care to Community Health Workers (CHWs) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, but little is known about CHWs’ efficacy in rural areas. Methods: In this longitudinal prospective cohort study, almost all […]

Timing, intensity, and duration of household food insecurity are associated with early childhood development in Kenya

This study examines the association between 3 dimensions of food insecurity (timing, intensity, and duration) and 3 domains of child development (gross motor, communication, and personal social). Longitudinal data from 303 households (n = 309 children) visited 9 times over 2 years were collected. Children in households experiencing severe food insecurity 3 months prior (timing) had significantly lower gross […]

Perceptions and practice of preconception care by healthcare workers and high-risk women in south africa: A qualitative study

Preconception care is biomedical, behavioural, and social health interventions provided to women and couples before conception. This service is sometimes prioritised for women at high risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Evidence revealed that only very few women in Africa with severe chronic conditions receive or seek preconception care advice and assessment for future pregnancy. Thus, […]

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