Inequalities in maternal malnutrition in Ethiopia: evidence from a nationally representative data
Background: Despite promising progress made in several maternal health indicators, maternal malnutrition (especially undernutrition) remained one of the greatest development challenges for Ethiopia. The main purpose of this study was to examine the disparities in maternal malnutrition and estimate the population level impacts of key risk factors in Ethiopia. Methods: The analysis was made based […]
Maternal factors associated with low birth weight in public hospitals of Mekelle city, Ethiopia: A case-control study
Background: Mothers in low socio-economic conditions frequently have low birth weight infants. Inaddition Physically demanding work during pregnancy also contributes to poor fetal growth. During gestation a woman needs balanced nutrition for a healthy outcome. Women with inadequate nutritional status at conception are at greater risk of aquiring disease; their health usually depends on the […]
Associations between maternal mental health and early child wheezing in a South African birth cohort
Background: Wheezing in early childhood is common and has been identified in high-income countries (HIC) as associated with maternal antenatal or postnatal psychosocial risk factors. However, the association between maternal mental health and childhood wheezing has not been well studied in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), such as South Africa. Methods: A total of 1137 […]
Public and private maternal health service capacity and patient flows in southern Tanzania: Using a geographic information system to link hospital and national census data
Background: Strategies to improve maternal health in low-income countries are increasingly embracing partnership approaches between public and private stakeholders in health. In Tanzania, such partnerships are a declared policy goal. However, implementation remains challenging as unfamiliarity between partners and insufficient recognition of private health providers prevail. This hinders cooperation and reflects the need to improve […]
Preference in the use of full childhood immunizations in Ethiopia: The role of maternal health services
Background: Immunizations represent a successful and cost-effective public health strategy in preventing common childhood diseases. Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in increasing its full immunization coverage, but significant gaps remain. This study aims to measure the preference in the use of full immunizations for children aged 12–23 months in Ethiopia and examine the role of […]
Evaluating the impact of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Malawi through immunization clinic-based surveillance
Background: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs can greatly reduce the vertical transmission rate (VTR) of HIV, and Malawi is expanding PMTCT access by offering HIV-infected pregnant women life-long antiretroviral therapy (Option B+). There is currently no empirical data on the effectiveness of Malawian PMTCT programs. This study describes a surveillance approach to […]
Use pattern of maternal health services and determinants of skilled care during delivery in Southern Tanzania: Implications for achievement of MDG-5 targets
Background: Almost two decades since the initiation of the Safe motherhood Initiative, Maternal Mortality is still soaring high in most developing countries. In 2000 WHO estimated a life time risk of a maternal death of 1 in 16 in Sub- Saharan Africa while it was only 1 in 2800 in developed countries. This huge discrepancy […]
Developing equity-focused interventions for maternal and child health in nigeria: An evidence synthesis for policy, based on equitable impact sensitive tool (EQUIST)
Introduction: among the most critical health systems components that requires strengthening to improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) outcomes in Nigeria is the concept of equity. UNICEF has designed the equitable impact sensitive tool (EQUIST) to enable policymakers improve equity in MNCH and reduce disparities between the most marginalized mothers and young children and […]
Maternal profiles and social determinants of malnutrition and the MDGs: What have we learnt?
Background: Maternal socio-demographic and health profiles are important determinants of malnutrition in children. In the 1990s, malnutrition was associated with low-birth-weight, young mothers and low maternal socio-economic status at Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital (PML). It is not known how this has changed by efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We examined socio-demographic and […]
Geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in Nigeria: 2003-2017
Background: Maternal mortality has remained a challenge in many low-income countries, especially in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. This study examines the geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization in Nigeria over the period between 2003 and 2017. Methods: The study used four rounds of Nigeria Demographic Health Surveys (DHS, 2003, 2008, 2013, […]
