Provision of Respectful Maternity Care During Labor and Delivery and Associated Factors Among Postnatal Mothers at Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, South West Ethiopia, 2021

BACKGROUND: The provision of respectful maternity care is an approach to caregiving with the goal of creating an enabling environment at all levels to improve women’s access to safe motherhood and reproductive health services. It should be noted that maternal cares need to be provided with full respect to the client and all around her. […]

Estimating the public health burden associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes resulting from syphilis infection across 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Untreated syphilis in pregnancy is associated with adverse clinical outcomes to the infant. The study aimed to estimate the public health burden resulting from adverse pregnancy outcomes due to syphilis infection among pregnant women not screened for syphilis in 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Estimated country-specific incidence of syphilis was generated from annual […]

Individual-level and community-level determinants of use of maternal health services in Northwest Ethiopia: a prospective follow-up study

Objective The use of maternal health services is an important indicator of maternal health and socioeconomic development. Evidence on individual-level and community-level determinants of use of maternal health services in Benishangul Gumuz Region was not well known so far. Hence, this study fills this gap. Design A prospective follow-up study Setting This study was conducted […]

“if you are on duty, you may be afraid to come out to attend to a person”: Fear of crime and security challenges in maternal acute care in Nigeria from a realist perspective

Background: Maternal and Child Health is a global priority. Access and utilization of facility-based health services remain a challenge in low and middle-income countries. Evidence on barriers to providing and accessing services omits information on the role of security within facilities. This paper explores the role of security in the provision and use of maternal […]

District-level health system strengthening for universal health coverage: Evidence from a longitudinal cohort study in rural Madagascar, 2014-2018

Introduction Despite renewed commitment to universal health coverage and health system strengthening (HSS) to improve access to primary care, there is insufficient evidence to guide their design and implementation. To address this, we conducted an impact evaluation of an ongoing HSS initiative in rural Madagascar, combining data from a longitudinal cohort and primary health centres. […]

Common perinatal mental disorders and post-infancy child development in rural Ethiopia: A population-based cohort study

Objective: To investigate whether maternal common mental disorders (CMD) in the postnatal period are prospectively associated with child development at 2.5 and 3.5 years in a rural low-income African setting. Methods: This study was nested within the C-MaMiE (Child outcomes in relation to Maternal Mental health in Ethiopia) population-based cohort in Butajira, Ethiopia, and conducted from […]

Impact of antenatal antiretroviral drug exposure on the growth of children who are HIV-exposed uninfected: the national South African Prevention of Mother to Child Evaluation cohort study

Background: The relationship between in-utero antiretroviral (ARV) drug exposure and child growth needs further study as current data provide mixed messages. We compared postnatal growth in the first 18-months of life between children who are HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) with fetal exposure to ARV drugs (prophylaxis or triple-drug therapy (ART)) and CHEU not exposed to ARVs. […]

Determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea: evidence from the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey data

Background: Globally, maternal health remains a major priority. Most of maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with most of these deaths linked to lack of access to antenatal care and skilled assistance during delivery. This study assessed the determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea. Methods: […]

Prevalence and maternal socio-demographic factors associated with stillbirth in health facilities in Anambra, south-east Nigeria

Background: Stillbirth is a major adverse perinatal outcome especially in low and middle income countries across the globe. Certain factors relating to mothers from such countries may be associated with this adverse condition. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of stillbirth and also explore the maternal socio-demographic factors associated with stillbirth among mothers in rural communities […]

Tetanus Toxoid Immunization Status and Associated Factors among Mothers in Damboya Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone, SNNP, Ethiopia

Background. Tetanus toxoid immunization is one of the proven strategies for eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus. According to Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey of 2016, only 49% of mothers received two tetanus toxoid (TT) injections during their last pregnancy which is below the World Health Organization and Ethiopia Ministry of Health recommendation. Therefore, the aim of […]