Effects of implementing free maternity service policy in Kenya: An interrupted time series analysis
Background: Maternal and perinatal mortality is a major public health concern across the globe and more so in low and middle-income countries. In Kenya, more than 6000 maternal deaths, and 35,000 stillbirths occur each year. The Government of Kenya abolished user fee for maternity care under the Free Maternity Service policy, in June of 2013 […]
Maternal and perinatal health research priorities beyond 2015: An international survey and prioritization exercise
Background: Maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 1990, but over a quarter million women still die every year of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal-health related targets are falling short of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and a post-2015 Development Agenda is emerging. In connection with this, setting global research priorities for […]
Women’s preferences for maternal healthcare services in bangladesh: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment
Despite substantial improvements in several maternal health indicators, childbearing and birthing remain a dangerous experience for many women in Bangladesh. This study assessed the relative importance of maternal healthcare service characteristics to Bangladeshi women when choosing a health facility to deliver their babies. The study used a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative methods (expert interviews, focus group […]
Maternal delays and unfavourable newborn outcomes among skilled deliveries in public hospitals of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A case-control study
Object We assessed maternal delays and unfavourable newborn outcomes among skilled deliveries in public hospitals of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia using â € the three maternal delays’ framework. Design A case-control study was conducted. Setting Public hospitals in Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia. Participants Sample of 57 cases and 121 controls participated from 4 September 2019 […]
Menstrual hygiene practice and associated factors among adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Menstrual hygiene has not received adequate attention in Sub-Saharan Africa, and there is a lack of regional representative data. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of good menstrual hygiene practices and associated factors among adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: In this study, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and […]
Perceptions of COVID-19 Maternal Vaccination among Pregnant Women and Healthcare Workers and Factors That Influence Vaccine Acceptance: A Cross-Sectional Study in Barcelona, Spain
COVID-19 is associated with poor maternal and pregnancy outcomes. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in Spain, yet vaccination rates in pregnancy are suboptimal. This study investigates the perceptions of pregnant women and healthcare workers (HCW) regarding COVID-19 vaccination. A web-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in 2021–2022 among 302 pregnant women and 309 HCWs in the […]
Individual and community-level factors associated with home birth: a mixed effects regression analysis of 2017–2018 Benin demographic and health survey
Background: Home birth is a common contributor to maternal and neonatal deaths particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We generally refer to home births as all births that occurred at the home setting. In Benin, home birth is phenomenal among some category of women. We therefore analysed individual and community-level factors influencing home birth […]
A synthesis of clinical and health system bottlenecks to implementing new WHO postpartum hemorrhage recommendations: Secondary data analysis of the Kenya Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths 2014–2017
Objective: To describe maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in Kenya by secondary analysis of the Kenya Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) database and clinical audit of a sample of those deaths, and to identify the perceived challenges to implementing country-specific PPH guidelines. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study using the Kenyan CEMD database and […]
Examining the distribution of benefits of a free Maternal and Child Health programme in Enugu State, Nigeria: a benefit incidence analysis
Objective: To determine the population groups that benefit from a Free Maternal and Child Health (FMCH) programme in Enugu State, South-east Nigeria, so as to understand the equity effects of the programme. Method: A community-based survey was conducted in rural and urban local government areas (LGAs) to aid the benefit incidence analysis (BIA) of the […]
Integration of contraceptive services into anticoagulation management services improves access to long-acting reversible contraception
Objective: Integration of services is a promising way to improve access to contraception in sub-Saharan Africa, but few studies have evaluated this strategy to increase access to contraception among women requiring anticoagulation. Our objective was to evaluate a model of care integrating contraceptive counseling and provision within an anticoagulation management clinic in Eldoret, Kenya, to […]
