Improving detection and initial management of gestational diabetes through the primary level of care in Morocco: Protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial
Background: Morocco is facing a growing prevalence of diabetes and according to latest figures of the World Health Organization, already 12.4% of the population are affected. A similar prevalence has been reported for gestational diabetes (GDM) and although it is not yet high on the national agenda, immediate and long-term complications threaten the health of […]
An equity analysis on the household costs of accessing and utilising maternal and child health care services in Tanzania
Background: Direct and time costs of accessing and using health care may limit health care access, affect welfare loss, and lead to catastrophic spending especially among poorest households. To date, limited attention has been given to time and transport costs and how these costs are distributed across patients, facility and service types especially in poor […]
Impact evaluation of the free maternal healthcare policy on the risk of neonatal and infant deaths in four sub-Saharan African countries: A quasi-experimental design with propensity score Kernel matching and difference in differences analysis
Objective Despite the huge financial investment in the free maternal healthcare policy (FMHCP) by the Governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso, no study has quantified the impact of FMHCP on the relative reduction in neonatal and infant mortality rates using a more rigorous matching procedure with the difference in differences (DID) analysis. This study used […]
The at risk child clinic (ARCC): 3 years of health activities in support of the most vulnerable children in Beira, Mozambique
The concept of “children at risk” changes worldwide according to each specific context. Africa has a large burden of overall risk factors related to childhood health and development, most of which are of an infective or social origin. The aim of this study was to report and analyze the volumes of activities of fifteen At […]
Neonatal mortality in HIV-exposed infants born to women receiving combination antiretroviral therapy in rural Uganda
As human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women gain access to combination antiretroviral therapy throughout sub-Saharan Africa, a growing number of infants are being born HIV-exposed but uninfected. Data about neonatal mortality and the impact of premature delivery, in this population are limited. We describe the 28-day mortality outcomes in a cohort of HIV-exposed infants who had […]
Factors associated with health insurance enrolment among ghanaian children under the five years. Analysis of secondary data from a national survey
Background: Health insurance enrolment provides financial access to health care and reduces the risk of catastrophic healthcare expenditure. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of health insurance enrolment among Ghanaian children under five years. Methods: We analysed secondary data from the 2017/18 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. The […]
Challenges in postnatal care provision in Ethiopia
Background: Most maternal deaths occur during the first 48 h after delivery; thus, a critical time for monitoring possible complications arising from the delivery. Quality postnatal care can contribute to a decrease in maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Despite the importance of postnatal care, it is generally a neglected aspect of maternal and child health […]
RoadMApp: A feasibility study for a smart travel application to improve maternal health delivery in a low resource setting in Zimbabwe
Background: Travel time and healthcare financing are critical determinants of the provision of quality maternal health care in low resource settings. Despite the availability of pregnancy-related mHealth and smart travel applications, there is a lack of evidence on their usage to travel to health facilities for routine antenatal care and emergencies. There is a shortage […]
Caesarean section among referred and self-referred birthing women: A cohort study from a tertiary hospital, northeastern Tanzania
Background: The inequity in emergency obstetric care access in Tanzania is unsatisfactory. Despite an existing national obstetric referral system, many birthing women bypass referring facilities and go directly to higher-level care centres. We wanted to compare Caesarean section (CS) rates among women formally referred to a tertiary care centre versus self-referred women, and to assess […]
Postpartum obesity and weight gain among human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected women in South Africa
In South Africa, up to 40% of pregnant women are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 30–45% are obese. However, little is known about the dual burden of HIV and obesity in the postpartum period. In a cohort of HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected pregnant women initiating antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa, we examined […]
