Uncovering spatial variation in maternal healthcare service use at subnational level in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia
Background: Analysis of disaggregated national data suggest uneven access to essential maternal healthcare services within countries. This is of concern as it hinders equitable progress in health outcomes. Mounting an effective response requires identification of subnational areas that may be lagging behind. This paper aims to explore spatial variation in maternal healthcare service use at […]
Social vulnerability, parity and food insecurity in urban South African young women: the healthy life trajectories initiative (HeLTI) study
Social vulnerability indices (SVI) can predict communities’ vulnerability and resilience to public health threats such as drought, food insecurity or infectious diseases. Parity has yet to be investigated as an indicator of social vulnerability in young women. We adapted an SVI score, previously used by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and calculated SVI […]
Regional and residential disparities in knowledge of abortion legality and availability of facility-based abortion services in Ethiopia
Objectives: To generate regional, residential, and nationally representative estimates of knowledge of abortion legality and availability among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia, and examine how knowledge varies across regions and by urban/rural residence. Study Design: Our study draws on data from a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey implemented in 2019 in each of Ethiopia’s regional […]
Access to and use of preventive intermittent treatment for Malaria during pregnancy: A qualitative study in the Chókwè district, Southern Mozambique
Background Malaria remains a significant health problem in Mozambique, particularly in the case of pregnant women and children less than five years old. Intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) is recommended for preventing malaria in pregnancy (MiP). Despite the widespread use and cost-effectiveness of IPTp-SP, coverage remains low. In this study, we explored factors limiting […]
Men in maternal health: An analysis of men’s views and knowledge on, and challenges to, involvement in antenatal care services in a Tanzanian community in Dodoma Region
Promoting men’s involvement in antenatal care (ANC) requires an understanding of their views on how they ought to be involved. Their involvement in ANC services can help in reducing delay in deciding to seek care and facilitate women’s access to skilled antenatal services. This study sought to determine men’s views and knowledge on, and challenges […]
Underutilization of the recommended frequency of focused antenatal care services in Northwest Ethiopia: Using Andersen’s healthcare service utilization model approach
Background: World Health organizations (2001) introduced an antenatal care model called Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) and recommended to have a minimum of four visits. This model is still feasible for low resource setting countries like Ethiopia. Underutilization of the recommended frequency of FANC results to hurt maternal and child health outcomes. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional […]
Do ownership of mosquito nets, dwelling characteristics and mothers’ socio-economic status influence malaria morbidity among children under the age of 5 in Cameroon?
Objectives: This study analyzed the effect of the number of mosquito nets that are owned by households, dwelling characteristics and maternal demographic characteristics on malaria infections. Material and Methods: The 2011 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for children under 5 years of age were used. The children were subjected to haemoglobin test and rapid […]
The prevalence and predictors of HIV infection among children of mothers who missed prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV interventions in Makurdi, Nigeria
Introduction: In Nigeria, gaps between uptakes of Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) interventions by HIV-infected women continue to exist with its consequent increase in perinatal HIV epidemic. This study aims to determine the predictors and HIV infection rates among infants and children of mothers of PMTCT Gaps in a major Nigerian […]
Nurses and midwives’ experience in providing fertility awareness-based methods, including natural family planning methods in Rwanda
Access to effective and acceptable family planning services in developing countries is an essential reproductive health intervention to reduce maternal deaths and prevent unwanted pregnancies. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to gain an in-depth understanding of nurses’ and midwives’ experiences in providing information related to fertility awareness-based methods, including natural family planning, […]
Delays in cancer care for children in low-income and middle-income countries: development of a composite vulnerability index
Background: Early access to diagnosis and care is essential to improve rates of survival from childhood cancer, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Composite indices are increasingly used to compare country performance in many health fields. We aimed to develop a composite vulnerability index of risk of mortality associated with delays in care for […]
